Maybe Jane Goodall Can Save Liberal Republicans

Jane Goodall with Thane Maynard and Gail Hudson. Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from The Brink. New York: Grand Center Publishing, 2009.

This book presents examples of successful efforts to prevent the extinction of species. One quarter of all mammals face extinction. Much of this is caused by humans, who have reduced water supplies, created global climate changes, and other actions that disrupt nature.

There have been public policy actions in these efforts. Lead poisoning is a threat to the survival of the California condor. These birds will accidentally eat plastic, glass, bottle caps, and other trash that is harmful. Leader bullets are poisonous to condors. California passed a law outlawing lead bullets for large game hunting. Some environmentalists believe this was not strong enough. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger believes banning the bullets will force manufacturers to stop making them.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was instrumental is saving the red wolf. Captured red wolves are introduced to life in the wild within wildlife refuges and then released into the wild to increase red wolf population.

The peregrine falcon as well as other birds and insects were nearly wiped out by the pesticides containing DDT. The Environmental Protection Agency held eight months of hearings before banning DDT. The issue was challenged in courts. The U.S. Supreme Court accepted the scientific evidence of the dangers of DDT and upheld the ban. The European Union also banned DDT.

The book heralds several scientific efforts that have saved several species. It tells how these goals were accomplished. It also feels of finding new species and even discovering species previously thought to be extinct.