3 iconic animals show the value of the US Endangered Species Act – and the harm in stripping it away

The stories of a whale, a panther and a butterfly help explain why new interpretations of the Endangered Species Act could be catastrophic for species’ survival.

By: Timothy Randhir, UMass Amherst, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 1, 2026

Words: 1,311

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

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By Timothy Randhir, UMass Amherst

It used to be considered against the law in America to starve a member of an endangered species to death or harm it by destroying its home.

That’s changing as the federal government chips away at the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Under the Trump administration’s new interpretations of the law, as long as the animal isn’t directly targeted, there is no violation.

The new interpretations,

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