Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Friday 29 September 2017

U.S. agency to decide if Pacific walrus is threatened species

By DAN JOLING mile of beach near the tiny
Associated Press northwestern Alaska village
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) of Point Lay recorded 64
— A federal agency faces mostly young dead walrus-
a deadline this week to es likely killed in stampedes.
decide whether the iconic That followed 131 walruses
Pacific walrus will join the found dead in September
polar bear on the threat- 2009 at Icy Cape about
ened species list. 140 miles (225 kilometers)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- southwest of Utqiagvik, for-
vice under a court settle- merly known as Barrow.
ment has until Saturday to Climate models project
decide whether the Pacific sea ice could disappear,
walrus should be put on the even over deep water, for
list because of threats to its part of the summer by mid-
sea ice habitat due to cli- century, Wolf said.
mate change. “Stopping the climate de-
Walruses use sea ice as nial, getting momentum
platforms for resting, feed- nationally at all levels and
ing and nursing. In spring, cutting our greenhouse gas
ice in the Bering Sea melts pollution, that’s absolutely
and the edge gradually the key to walruses’ surviv-
recedes north through the al,” Wolf said.
Bering Strait and into the Projections of future sea
Chukchi Sea. In this April 18, 2004 photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service a walrus cow and her calf ice rely on climate model-
Shaye Wolf, climate sci- sit on the ice in Alaska. ing and there’s uncertainty
ence director for the Cen- Associated Press with models, Dale said.
ter for Biological Diversity, sources and announced these species have. That has receded beyond the Some argue that listing
in February 2008 filed the that the country would pull in itself doesn’t mean that shallow shelf to water more high-profile species calls at-
petition that called for the out of the 2015 Paris climate they’re in jeopardy of ex- than 10,000 feet (3,050 me- tention to global warming,
listing. The need has not di- accord, in which nearly 200 tinction.” ters) deep, far too deep for Dale said, but it comes at
minished, she said Tuesday. nations pledged to reduce Male walruses in summer walrus to reach the ocean a cost. “It’s a diversion of
“The science is absolute- carbon emissions. mostly remain in the Ber- floor. Instead of remaining resources from meaningful
ly clear that the walrus is The state of Alaska in un- ing Sea, resting on remote on ice over deep water, conservation,” Dale said.
in trouble from climate successful lawsuits chal- coasts when they’re not females with calves have “That’s not what the act
change and it’s already lenged the listing of polar foraging. congregated on shore in was intended for.”
waited much too long for bears and ringed seals and Females with calves ride northwest Alaska and Rus- Both Dale and Wolf expect
protection,” Wolf said. opposes the walrus listing. the ice north like a convey- sia, sometimes in herds of a decision this week. If the
President Donald Trump State Division of Wildlife or belt. The females dive 40,000. The animals pack federal government denies
has called climate change Conservation director for clams, sea snails and beaches, ready to rush the walrus listing, the deci-
a “total con job” and Bruce Dale said Wednes- other mollusks on the shal- to the safety of the water sion likely would be chal-
“hoax” perpetrated to day that the walrus popula- low continental shelf while if they perceive danger. lenged in court, Wolf said.
harm U.S. economic com- tion is robust and listing the pups rest on ice. As ice When herds are spooked Interior Department and
petitiveness. species based on uncer- recedes, the pack edge by polar bears, hunters, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
He has pushed to scrap tain future climate change is continuously over new airplanes or boats, walrus officials did not respond
Obama-era initiatives that is not justified. feeding grounds. stampedes into the ocean immediately Wednes-
sought to reduce carbon “They’ve gone through pe- In recent years, however, as can crush the smallest ani- day to email requests for
emissions from coal-fired riods of warming before,” the Arctic has warmed, ice mals. A Sept. 11 survey of a comment.q
power plants and other Dale said of walruses. “All