Endangered Monk Seal and Condor Gunshot Victims
Incidents Highlight Frustration With Wildlife Protection Efforts
May 29, 2009
In Hawaii, a critically endangered monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) has been killed by gunshot in May. Another monk seal was found dead in April. Both cases are under investigation.
In California, in March, two young California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) that appeared to be ill were captured and found to be full of lead pellets. One of those condors has since died from lead poisoning while the other was rehabilitated and released back to the wild.
Critical Habitat Designation Issues for the Hawaiian Monk Seal
While it is not known at this time whether the deaths of the monk seals are related, there has been some outspoken opposition to the proposal to designate critical habitat on the main Hawaiian Islands. Some critical habitat has already been designated in the Northwestern Islands but the newest proposal would increase the area covered to include land and waters around the main Hawaiian chain.
California Condors and the Lead Shot Ban
The two California condors were found around the time that lead shot was banned within the range of the California condor. This ban has not been well received by hunters. While many cases of lead poisoning in condors are the result of them eating carcasses with lead shot in them, these endangered birds had been deliberately shot. But it is not yet known whether hunters or local landowners, facing restrictions on land use in or near California condor habitat, are responsible in for the shootings.
Public Frustration With Restrictions Resulting From Endangered Species Act
These two high profile cases, involving species that have become popular with some members of the general public, serve to highlight one of the problems faced when attempting to protect endangered wildlife.
In order to safeguard wildlife that is threatened with extinction, it is often necessary to reduce activities near, or change access to, areas where the endangered animals are found. The people directly affected by those changes and restrictions may feel frustrated.
This is especially true in areas where there isn’t clear evidence that the proposed changes will help the species in question, which is the case for the Hawaiian monk seal. In contrast, there is clear evidence that banning lead shot will reduce the losses of California condors, as lead poisoning from consuming animals shot by hunters is a leading cause of death in the species. But lead shot is cheaper than other options.
For some people the very fact that their way of life is being impinged upon is enough to cause anger. But most of those people will express that frustration legally and without malice. Unfortunately cases such as the killings of Hawaiian monk seals and California condors only serve to widen the gap between those who support endangered species conservation and those who have been negatively affected by those conservation efforts.
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