Victory for Jaguars: Obama Pledges Recovery Plan, Habitat Protection

[Omaha Steve]

Capping a 13-year battle to save the American jaguar from extinction, this week the Center for Biological Diversity won a decision from the Obama administration to develop a recovery plan and protect essential habitat for North America's largest and most endangered cat.

The Bush administration had twice declared that it would not recover, reintroduce, or do anything to protect jaguars in the United States. Twice the Center's legal team filed suit and struck down the illegal decisions. This left the final decision up to Obama, but until the last moment, we were uncertain he would do the right thing as he has not made endangered species a priority to date.

Now that the Obama administration has committed to developing a federal recovery plan and mapping out the jaguar's critical habitat, the long, hard work of saving the American jaguar can begin.

I want to personally thank the tens of thousands of Center supporters who sent emails to the Obama administration to save the jaguar. You really showed the administration how important and popular jaguar conservation is. I also want to thank the thousands of people who contributed financially to keep our jaguar campaign going these 13 long years; without you, we couldn't have done it.

Read more in the Arizona Daily Star: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/center/articles/2010/arizona-daily-star-01-12-2010.html

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Why does Obama want small dogs to be eaten by vicious predators?

So much for change, Mr. Obama.

[Omaha Steve]

2. You really believe that?

You didn't read the link: snip

Rancher Judy Keeler, who has been involved with the Arizona-New Mexico Jaguar Conservation Team for years, was resigned about the news. The jaguar's real critical habitat is south of the United States, she said from her ranch in far southwestern New Mexico.

"We don’t have any jaguars here. Never have been to my knowledge. My parents and grandparents have lived here since the 1880s," she said.

The only jaguar known to spend considerable amounts of time in the United States, Macho B, was euthanized March 2, 12 days after being captured by Arizona Game and Fish employees and fitted with a tracking collar. A veterinarian diagnosed the animal with kidney failure.

[Schema Thing]

3. small dogs grow up to be big dogs

and then you have to shoot them from helicopters. This way saves fuel.

[Pirate Smile]

6. You're on a roll tonight.

I've seen multiple comments. On a different thread, I started to ask "are you serious?" But I've already answered that question for myself.:P

[rhett o rick]

8. Ease back on the medication, jack. nt

[timeforpeace]

4. A government plan is all it took to save the jaguar from extinction? That was easy. Next.

[Cetacea]

5. Florida Panthers.

[ellie]

7. Kitteh!

[rhett o rick]

9. I approve, and now let's do something for the 122 citizens that are dying every day

because the health insurance predators put profits before life.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. It's not a zero-sum game. We can support jaguar habitat AND health care reform.

[rhett o rick]

12. I totally agree. nt

[Shell Beau]

10. The most beautiful of all cats IMO.

I hate seeing any animal endangered. Even the ones I don't really care for (even though I can't think of one. I am sure there is one out there).

[proud patriot]

13. Woo Hoo

:bounce: