AFRICA

PROTECTING PENGUINS FROM GLOBAL WARMING

The Center is working to protect the world's penguin species from extinction due to global warming. More than half of the world's 19 penguin species are in danger of extinction, including the African, macaroni, and southern rockhopper penguins. In 2006 the Center petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list 12 of the world's penguin species under the Endangered Species Act, including these three African species.

PROTECTING IMPERILED AFRICAN ANTELOPES

 The Center is working to protect three extremely rare North African antelope species under the Endangered Species Act. In 1991, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list the addax, scimitar-horned oryx, and dama gazelle, all of which occur in the Sahara and Sahel desert region of northern Africa. The scimitar-horned oryx resembles a unicorn and is believed to be the origin of modern human's belief in unicorns. Trophy hunting, war, and habitat destruction threatens the survival of these rare antelope species. Listing would restrict trophy hunting by U.S. citizens in Africa and increase U.S. government funding, research and assistance for the species. After more than a decade of delay by the Service, the Center filed a lawsuit in 2004, which led to the listing of all three species as endangered in 2005.