From ages thirteen through seventeen I was a volunteer employee at the Toledo Zoo. To this day I identify as a conservationist, and fight to protect wildlife. This is why I was heartbroken to learn that President Donald Trump is looking for an exemption from the Endangered Species Act to drill for oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Endangered Species Act is supposed to protect wildlife that is listed as threatened or endangered. To be considered endangered, there must be less than 2,500 left in the wild. Some of the animals in the Gulf of Mexico the Endangered Species Act is protecting are the green sea turtle (threatened), the leatherback sea turtle (endangered), and the sperm whale (endangered).
 |
Right now, the Endangered Species Act is preventing President Trump from expanding oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. President Trump is looking for a national security exemption to expand oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The president’s exact plan for the Gulf is unclear, but it will put the marine life in danger, including the Rice’s whale. Only about 50 Rice’s whales are left in the wild.
 |
 |
| Steve Irwin |
I am not a famous conservationist, but I did spend my teen years teaching people about conservation and why it is important to care for wildlife. My favorite story from when I was a ZOOTeen is when I was working a summer camp. These two young girls—they must have been no more than eight—kept looking at the signs outside the animal's enclosures. They kept noticing the “Endangered Species” symbol on the signs and got very upset that the animals were going extinct. Finally, I told them that the symbol under the endangered species one was for the Species Survival Plan, a program where zoos work together to keep endangered species alive. I explained to the girls why it was important and that as adults they can help keep these animals alive. That day I watched two young girls start to care about conservation.
The fact that something as simple as a symbol can get two eight-year-old so upset about endangered animals that they suddenly want to fight for conservation says people do care about wildlife. I am disgusted that President Trump would put these beautiful, endangered creatures at risk for oil when environmentally sustainable options are just waiting for someone to sign off on them. Oil should never be more important than our environment.
I enjoyed learning more about endangered animals from your blog post. The story about ZOOTeen is incredible and I had no idea about it! I agree with your stance on the environment should be more important than oil, it is disappointing we don't have people in office that think the same way. Great job!
ReplyDeleteIt is really upsetting to know that our current leadership does not care about the endangered species, especially when losing one species has a significant impact on their ecosystem, which then affects ours. I love how you used your experience in your post, it makes it more heartfelt.
ReplyDeleteMy best friend is an environmentalist and huge fan of Steve Irwin so this post means a lot! It's heartbreaking to know that the people in office care more about oil than a species on the brink of extinction. Hearing about your impact on those two girls gives me hope that we'll see even more upcoming conservationists!
ReplyDeleteThis was a powerful read. The story about the two girls really shows how much people care once they understand what’s happening. With only about fifty Rice’s whales left, any new drilling in the Gulf puts them at serious risk. When cleaner energy options exist, it’s hard to justify choices that endanger wildlife that’s already struggling to survive.
ReplyDeleteYour post was very insightful and the connection to Steve Irwin made it even more meaningful to me, and I'm sure it would to a lot of our generation, having grown up seeing him as such a fighter for nature and loving the earth and its creatures. To lose them just for oil is heartbreaking, especially when we know there are better alternatives that could be readily available.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to learn about trumps request for exemption of the endangered species act because my blog post is similar, outlining exemptions, repeals, and reform of environmental laws in regards to pollution. When hearing/ reading/ writing about these exemptions made under the trump administration, it begs the question "what is the point of the endangered species act if it can be ignored?" To me, and many like minded conservationists, it seems clear that the endangered species act is a non-negotiable law that should never be subject to exceptions.
ReplyDeleteYour post made me look up some information on those endangered species, and there was some really interesting information out there. It's increasingly insane to me that our government is endangering such cool animals for something like oil when we could just use solar or wind instead. How do you even justify something like that?
ReplyDeleteI like how you made your post personal, including a reference to Wild Kratts and Steve Irwin. Your stories make it an interesting and engaging read.
ReplyDeleteI like what you had to say in your blog post. I liked the reference to Wild Kratts, I used to watch that show when I was younger too! I was also intrigued by your experience working at ZOOTeen. Coincidentally, in my hometown, I work at the Columbus Zoo in Catering, and while I didn't exactly work with animals or wildlife of any kind, I do know a thing or two about sustainability in the workplace! And I agree with you, I am furious at President Trump and every one of his allies who deny climate change and want to continue harming our planet. Great work on this!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have a firsthand account in regards to how wildlife is being affected by climate change, and it's heartbreaking to know just how many animals are at the risk of potential extinction. It was also interesting but horrible that Trump wants to keep expanding his oil monopoly, despite there only being 5o rice whales left in the wild. Conserving wildlife is very important! Please keep doing what you are doing, and don't let Trump and his administration tear you down.
ReplyDeleteExamples of how and why people get into conservation are so important. I think many people are too easily tricked into sitting back and thinking that they're not a nature nerd so why should they fight for the environment, but everyday stories like these can be a rallying cry for everyday people and every person matters in the fight for our world.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you connected your time at the Toledo Zoo to the larger issue of protecting endangered species. I could tell this issue matters to you personally. Your example about teaching the two young girls helped illustrate that people do care about conservation when they understand what is at stake.
ReplyDeleteThe contrast between the "Species Survival Plan" and a national security exemption for drilling highlights a fundamental clash between a culture of care and one of extraction. It’s moving to see how early that "local intuition" for protection starts, showing that the drive to preserve life is often more natural than the learned apathy of industrial greed.
ReplyDelete