Between the early 1980′s and 2000, most States conducted annual bald eagle surveys. Since then, many states recognized that annual surveys were no longer necessary. That is why you will not see annual data after 2000. On August 9, 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species.
General Statistics for Endangered Species current as of October 15, 2009
How many species in the United States are listed as threatened or endangered?
614 U.S. animal species are listed.
747 U.S. plant species are listed.
How many species in the United States are proposed for listing as threatened or endangered?
18 U.S. animal species are currently proposed for listing.
46 U.S. plant species are currently proposed for listing.
How many listed species have designated critical habitat?
539 U.S. species have designated critical habitat.
How many candidate species are there?
138 animal species are candidates for listing.
110 plant species are candidates for listing.
How many habitat conservation plans (HCPs) have been approved?
1017 habitat conservation plans have been approved (849 current, 168 expired).
How many listed species have approved recovery plans?
1134 species have approved recovery plans.
The Endangered Species Act was signed into law on December 28, 1973
More than 1,300 species have been added to the national lists of threatened and endangered wildlife and plants.
A total of 21 U.S. species under the watch of the FWS, and an additional 14 foreign or NMFS-lead species, have been reclassified from endangered to the less critical category of threatened. Aquatic and plant species make up the bulk of these downlistings. Some recently reclassified species include the Florida population of the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), the Gila trout (Oncorhynchus gilae), and the Missouri bladderpod (Lesquerella filiformis).
13 U.S. species for which the FWS has lead, and an additional 7 foreign or NMFS species, have been delisted due to recovery. The most recently recovered species include the (West) Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus), certain populations of the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and the Yellowstone Distinct Population Segment of the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis).
Currently, there are 545 final recovery plans and 48 draft plans that cover 1,129 U.S species. An additional 124 U.S. species have recovery plans under development.
Data: USFWS Endangered Species Bulletin , Spring 2009
More than 33% of federally listed bird species occur on the Hawaiian islands.
71 Hawaiian bird species have become extinct since the arrival of humans.
An additional 10 birds are feared extinct as they have not been observed for over 40 years.
Prior to human inhabitants, Hawaii was home to 113 unique bird species such as flightless geese, ibis, rails, and 59 species of Hawaiian honeycreepers.
43% of 157 sea and land species are not native to the islands, while 69% of the landbirds have been brought over from all parts of the world.
Between 1978 and 1991, only 200 Kemp’s ridley sea turtles nested annually near Rancho Nuevo, which is a dramatic decline from the more than 42,000 that arrived in a massive synchronized nesting in one day in 1947. Contributing to the start of their decline was the sighting of villagers harvesting 80%, or 33,000, of the eggs that had been deposited on the beach during that incredible day.
According to the National Parks Service, “During each summer from 1978 to 1988, approximately 2,000 Kemp’s ridley eggs were transported from Rancho Nuevo to the National Seashore.”
As the fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar has a land area of approximately 226,000 square miles and a population over 20 million (with 3% per annum growth). As such, the island has produced a variety of unique species and is susceptible to declining habitats as the population increases:
Threatened Plant Species: 2008
Vulnerable – 117
Endangered – 101
Critically Endangered – 62
Extinct – 4
Threatened Animal Species (IUCN critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable): 2008
Mammals – 47
Birds – 35
Invertebrates – 32
Fish – 21
Reptiles – 20
Amphibians – 8
Biologist, wildlife advocate, conservationist and simply captivated by marine life. Currently working to complete a full life's circle balancing work, life and a desire to spark worldwide wildlife preservation...and now bringing you the numbers and stats about our planet and its inhabitants. That's me, so check out the site and take a peek at "About The Site" page.