On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposed lifting protections on most humpback whales, as the species' population has rebounded after 45 years of restoration efforts. Following the ban of commercial whaling in the '60s, the mammals were listed as endangered in 1970. Now, the NOAA wants to reclassify the whales into 14 different species and remove 10 from the endangered list.
Though some experts think the move might be premature because the species will become vulnerable as oceans respond to climate change, they agree that the population growth demonstrates the efficiency of the Endangered Species Act.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
How potatoes became an 'unusual bellwether' in Russia's economyUnder The Radarp Spud shortages are pointing to a wider crisis in the nation's finances
-
7 food trails worth zipping alongThe Week Recommends Take a bite out of the United States
-
Libraries are feeling the cost burden of e-book popularityUnder the Radar Certain states are working to change laws around e-book purchasing for libraries
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mountsSpeed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK filesSpeed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election lossesSpeed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandalSpeed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing lineSpeed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein filesspeed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checksSpeed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
