For the second time in less than a year, Palin’s administration has sought legal action against an endangered species in favor of the oil industry. This time, the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale is her target.
In August 2008, it was the Polar Bear. Now Palin has the critically endangered Cook Inlet Beluga Whale in her sights.

The Cook Inlet Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is a genetically distinct and geographically isolated population. And that population is only about 375 whales.

But Palin doesn’t believe that qualifies as “endangered.”

Here is an excerpt from the Palin Administration’s 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue:

Alaska seeks declaratory and injunctive relief as appropriate to correct and enjoin the continued actions by the Secretary in violation of the ESA and its implementing regulations by improperly listing a distinct population segment (”DPS”) of the beluga whale found in Cook Inlet in danger of extinction throughout its range and the listing of this DPS as an endangered species.

“Improperly listing” the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale as an endangered species?

I am not sure who is the expert here: Palin (who is certainly no scientist) or the NOAA. But let’s assume it’s the NOAA:

The Cook Inlet beluga population declined nearly 50 percent between 1994 and 1998, based on annual scientific surveys. NOAA scientists estimated the Cook Inlet beluga population at 375 for both 2007 and 2008.

Estimates have varied from a high of 653 belugas in 1994 to a low of 278 belugas in 2005.
Despite restrictions on Alaskan Native subsistence harvest of Cook Inlet belugas starting in 1999, the population is still not recovering.

Between 1999 and 2006, Alaska Native hunters took a total of five Cook Inlet beluga whales for subsistence. No beluga whales were harvested in 2007 or 2008.

Brendan Cummings, oceans program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, has summed this up perfectly for us:

“Governor Palin seems more than willing to sacrifice endangered whales on the altar of oil company profits.”

Indeed. What will she think of next?

Source: GO Media - Written by Rhishja Larson - Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/izik/ / CC BY 2.0

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