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No. 1266, October 10, 2024 |
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Ocelot Spotted in New Arizona Location |
The Center for Biological Diversity just released stunning new trail-camera footage of a rare wild ocelot in a southern Arizona mountain range, within the ancestral homelands of the Tohono O’odham Nation. For this shy cat’s safety, we won’t say exactly where — but we will say it was somewhere ocelots haven’t been seen for a long time.
Protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1982, ocelots have striking spot patterns unique to each animal. Fewer than 100 remain in the United States — most in southern Texas, with a tiny but crucial population in Arizona.
“I shouted with joy when I realized what I was seeing in this footage,” said the Center’s Russ McSpadden, who placed the trail camera. “It shows that these elegant, elusive, and fiercely resilient felines belong in Arizona, despite all the threats they face. Now I have new hope for the species’ survival.”
Watch and share our video on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. |
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Warning Issued Over Flagstaff Wolves |
The Center and allies have filed notice with state and federal agencies that efforts to trap and move a family of Mexican gray wolves living near Flagstaff, Arizona, are illegal. These wolves, the Kendrick Peak pack, may have been born north of Interstate 40 and thus should be fully protected under the Endangered Species Act. Trapping risks injuring them — and removing them from the Grand Canyon ecosystem, where they need to live to recover, will leave the area wolfless once again.
“These tenacious wolves belong right where they are, so we’re putting wildlife officials on notice that they’ll be breaking the law if they try to interfere,” said the Center’s Michael Robinson.
Be part of our work for wolves with a gift to the Center’s Saving Life on Earth Fund. |
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Say No to More Fossil Fuels in the Tennessee Valley |
The Tennessee Valley Authority, the largest federal utility in the United States, just released a 25-year plan that will saddle the valley with more methane-spewing “natural” gas plants — a decision that deeply undermines the country's pledge to transition the energy sector off fossil fuels.
Choosing to prioritize gas over clean energy will degrade habitat for wildlife, pollute water and air, worsen extreme weather events, raise household energy bills, and hurt people's health.
But this doesn't have to happen. TVA's board of directors can stop the reckless buildout and get on a path to renewables — which would tackle the climate crisis and improve lives and livelihoods.
Tell TVA to drop its current plan and transition to 100% clean energy. |
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Suit Seeks Help for 13,000-Year-Old Oak |
Along with our allies, the Center just sued the city of Jurupa Valley, California, for greenlighting development around 500 feet from the world’s oldest known living oak without properly studying potential harms. The oak is one of a kind and believed to be 13,000 to 18,000 years old. It shares its home with vulnerable animals like Delhi Sands flower-loving flies and California gnatcatchers.
“It’s outrageous that city officials OK’d grading and blasting to make way for industrial buildings so dangerously close to the Jurupa Oak,” said Meredith Stevenson, a Center attorney. |
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Newsom Signs Commonsense Measures for California |
In a much-needed victory for the climate, California Gov. Gavin Newsom last month signed three critical bills into law — an action that solidifies protections for people, wildlife, and the planet and advances the state's climate goals. In case you missed it: The Local Environmental Choice and Safety Act safeguards the rights of local governments to protect their residents from dangerous pollution by banning or regulating oil and gas operations. The Idle Oil Wells Clean Up Bill requires oil companies to plug hazardous idle wells more quickly or pay increased fees, so that polluters — not taxpayers — will pay for cleanup.
The Low-Producing Wells Accountability Act aims to shut down and remediate all oil and gas wells in the Inglewood Oil Field by 2030. These wells pose a tremendous health hazard to surrounding communities.
To the nearly 10,000 supporters this year who urged the California legislature and Gov. Newsom to pass these bills at every stage, thank you. |
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Biodiversity Briefing: The Chevron Decision and the Wild |
This summer the Supreme Court struck down the “Chevron deference,” which basically stated that if federal legislation is ambiguous, courts must defer to reasonable interpretations by regulatory agencies. That move could transform how groups like the Center use the courts to save wildlife and wild places.
In our September “Biodiversity Briefing” presentation, Executive Director Kierán Suckling discussed the Supreme Court’s recent pattern and intent in striking down this legal precedent, as well as the coming onslaught of industry attacks on treasured environmental protections. He offered a glimpse into the Center’s unique position in this litigation landscape and our plans to simultaneously defend against industry challenges and offensively strike down bad agency decisions that were shielded by Chevron.
These briefings, including live Q&A sessions, are open to all members of the Center’s Leadership Circle and Owls Club.
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Revelator: Planetary Problems |
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That’s Wild: So a Fish Walks Into a Bar… |
What has the body of a fish, fins like delicate wings, and legs that can taste? Sea robins, apparently.
These fascinating fish have six crablike appendages that resemble legs and allow them to taste and dig their way across the ocean floor — so well, in fact, that other species tag along in their wake to snag possible leftovers.
A new study of two different sea robin species reveals that one uses the front appendages for food-finding while the other just uses them for plain old walking. And a gene called tbx3a allowed the specialized sensory limbs to develop — a gene human limbs depend on too.
Learn more about the study and watch a sea robin doing its thing. |
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Center for Biological Diversity | Saving Life on Earth
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Photo credits: Ocelot by Russ McSpadden/Center for Biological Diversity; gray wolf courtesy Jim Clark/USFWS; rooftop solar by Dennis Schroeder/National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Kingston fossil fuel plant by Gaby Sarri-Tobar/Center for Biological Diversity; coastal California gnatcatcher courtesy USFWS, Jurupa Oak by Aaron Echols, Delhi Sands flower-loving fly courtesy Marjory Nelson/USFWS; California spotted owl courtesy Rick Kuyper/USFWS; smokestacks by Alfred T. Palmer/U.S. Farm Security Administration, Supreme Court by Joe Ravi/Wikimedia, polar bear by Teresa from Mexico/Wikimedia; aerial view of rivers and clouds courtesy NASA; armored sea robin courtesy NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.
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Center for Biological Diversity
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Tucson, AZ 85702
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