AR-News: (US Endangered status sought for orcasAK)

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

SEATTLE - The state Department of Fish and Wildlife proposed Monday that 
Puget Sound's orcas be added to the state's list of endangered species "because 
the marine mammals are at critically low levels and are vulnerable to several 
continuing threats." 
The department made the recommendation based on a status report indicating 
that the population of "southern residents" in Puget Sound and nearby waters has 
declined 18 percent since 1995. 
The L pod, one of three groups of southern residents, has seen both higher 
mortality rates and lower birth rates, particularly in the past decade, 
officials said. 
"The solid scientific work reflected in this report gives us an excellent 
base on which to assess the health of our resident orca population and determine 
what the next steps should be to protect one of the most enduring symbols of 
Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest," the department said.





full story:

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/030204/sta_nwdigest.shtml 
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