On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced that two species of parrots have been observed in the wild and were declared no longer required protection under US endangered species law. The Fish and Wildlife Service has removed the turquoise and scarlet-chested parrots from the list.
Both parrots are found in Australia and they have been listed in the endangered species list since the 1970s. The scarlet-chested species was thought to have already been extinct until it was recently cited.
Experts have characterized populations of both turquoise and scarlet-chested parrots as stable. The scarlet-chested parrots' population has recovered well. According to the agency there are more than 10,000 scarlet-chested parrots, The Hill reported.
There has been potential increase noted for turquoise parrots as well who has been reported to have more than 20,000 in Australia. Therefore, removing it from the endangered species list, said the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The agency has been on a virtual hiatus after Trump was inaugurated in January. After a regulatory freeze, now that it's back in business, their decisions have spurred controversial response.
Last week they also decided to remove the Florida manatee off the endangered species list. It caused an outcry from different organizations and some from Republicans in the Sunshine State who said the decision was premature.
Fish and Wildlife service is also looking to remove the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear from the endangered species list. The decision is expected by summer. On Tuesday, environmental groups initiated a campaign to urge not to remove protectections for the grizzlies.
The Washington Examiner reported, in an effort to urging the Trump administration not to remove the protections, the Center for Biological Diversity delivered more than 55,000 postcards from citizens around the country. Ryan Zinke, Interior Secretary heard of the campaign and blocked the postcards from being delivered to the agency, the Center for Biological Diversity said. The postcards were delivered to the headquarters of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday.
