Celebrate Endangered Species Day

By Linda Hunter
Published: May 2007

Endangered sea otter. Credit: Kip Evans

On May 1st, 2007, the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution declaring May 18th “Endangered Species Day”.  Zoos, aquariums, parks, wildlife refuges, schools, museums, libraries, conservation organizations, and community groups across the country are planning events to protect our nation’s wildlife, fish, and plants on the brink of extinction.

"Endangered Species Day will provide opportunities for young people, students, and the general public to learn more about the more than 1,800 species in the U.S. and abroad, which are designated as ‘at risk’ for extinction,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein who led the effort to pass the resolution.

By designating May 18th, 2007 as “Endangered Species Day,” the U.S. Senate “encourages the people of the United States to become educated about and aware of threats to species, success stories in species recovery and the opportunity to promote species conservation worldwide.”

Designated in 1981 because of its rich biological diversity, the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary surrounds the wind-swept peaks of the Farallon Islands just off our coastline. The Sanctuary encompasses over 1,200 square miles of open ocean and coastal waters as well as bays and estuaries—from Bodega Head in Sonoma County all the way down along the San Mateo County coast. At least 36 species of marine mammals have been observed within its borders, including 25 endangered species, such as the blue and humpback whales.

Most large whale populations were decimated due to hunting. For instance, blue whales, the largest animals on earth, once numbered 200,000. Today the worldwide population is estimated to be 10,000. Other whales, such as the humpback are still endangered, despite being protected.

One of the great success stories of the Endangered Species Act in the Sanctuary is that of the gray whale. Thanks to a variety of conservation efforts, gray whales have been restored to what most experts believe is their pre-whaling population. Some observers estimate that by the mid-1940s only 8,000 to 10,000 gray whales existed. Since then, steady population growth has boosted their numbers to about 21,000. The eastern North Pacific stock of gray whales was recently taken off the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.  Although the Atlantic stock of gray whales is basically extinct, the Eastern Pacific stock continues to thrive and those who live in the Bay Area are fortunate to be able to witness their annual migration.

The western Pacific population of the Steller sea lion was added to the endangered list in 1997 in response to an 80% drop in its population over the last 30 years. The current population of Steller sea lions is about 40,000, with about 500 living in California. 

Sea otters in California are a threatened species due to past over hunting for their beautiful fur. When humans first discovered the sea otter in the 1700's they ranged from Baja California along the west coast of the United States into Alaska and around the Pacific to the eastern coast of Russia and down into Japanese waters. Although sea otters are protected now, they remain vulnerable, especially to oil spills. Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters do not have a blubber layer. Therefore, they rely on their fur to keep warm. If their fur is oiled, it loses its insulating qualities and the sea otters soon chill. Otters are also affected by the oil fumes or poisoned by eating food exposed to oil. Most sea otters quickly die when exposed to an oil spill.

For more than 30 years, the Endangered Species Act has worked to save the rarest members of America's wildlife heritage, including helping to rescue the gray whale from extinction. Twenty-five endangered and threatened species live within the borders of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary just off our shore—including endangered blue and humpback whales, marine mammals, sea turtles and fisheries that are protected under the ESA. Come learn more by visiting us at the Sanctuary Visitor Center on Crissy Field.