Trump's funding freeze puts global wildlife at greater risk
The Donald Trump administration has halted funding for key wildlife conservation programmes, increasing the risk of poaching elephants and rhinos, The Guardian reports.
The Trump administration has decided to freeze funds for key wildlife conservation programmes, which may increase the threat to elephants and rhinos. This decision concerns international conservation grants managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which support the protection of endangered species around the world.
Environmental organisations, such as the Centre for Biological Diversity, expressed outrage and announced legal action if funding is not restored.
Sarah Uhlemann from this organisation emphasised that the funds are crucial for patrols protecting rhinos in Africa, where their population has dropped by 94 per cent over the last century.
In a letter to the FWS, the Centre for Biological Diversity indicated that stopping funding violates the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which requires consideration of endangered species in government decisions. The organisation emphasises that lack of funds may lead to the extinction of some of the world's most endangered animals.
The freezing of grants is part of Trump's broader policy to limit U.S. foreign aid. Previously, the president attempted to weaken the Endangered Species Act and pushed for fossil fuel projects and deforestation initiatives that could threaten species.
Controversies around hunting
Legal hunting in Africa is popular among some Americans, including Donald Trump Jr., who was seen with an elephant's cut-off tail. The Fish and Wildlife Service was asked to comment on the potential lawsuit.
