50 years of the Endangered Species Act Dec 28, 2023

Today is a special milestone for our furry, scaly, and feathered friends: the Endangered Species Act is turning 50. This landmark legislation, signed into law in 1973, has been helping species on the brink for half a century. Who"s that in the spotlight? A humpback whale! Known for their haunting songs and acrobatic breaches, these gentle giants are a success story of the ESA. They were once on the edge of extinction, largely due to commercial whaling, but thanks to conservation efforts, their population has bounced back from around 5,000 in 1966 to an estimated 135,000 today. However, our work isn"t over. Challenges persist, from habitat loss to poaching. So, what can we do? Spread the word, support conservation efforts, participate in local initiatives, and be eco-friendly.

© Paul Souders/DanitaDelimont.com

palette

Today in History

Dec 28, 2018A species no longer at risk
Dec 28, 2019Did they forget to fly south?
Dec 28, 2020Wildcat in a winter wonderland
Dec 28, 2021Kjell Henriksen Observatory
Dec 28, 2022Maloja, Switzerland
Dec 28, 2024Endangered Species Act
Dec 28, 2025Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 28, 2021Coming home to roost
Jul 13, 2024International Rock Day
Aug 6, 2020Space-age style by the sea
Oct 29, 2023Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia
Aug 20, 2023International Lighthouse Weekend
Nov 28, 2018Christmas comes to New York City
Jan 25, 2021Struck by Southwestern beauty
Apr 8, 2020Santorini through the clouds
Sep 21, 2020A gentle wind fills this sail
May 5, 2020A courtyard scene from Spain
Apr 27, 2022Midnight sun
Jan 10, 2026The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland
Jun 23, 2024Dhaka, Bangladesh
Jul 19, 2020Venice by night
Nov 17, 2018A bird of beauty
Feb 1, 2021Reflecting on Black History Month
Nov 6, 2025Celebrating Yi Peng
Feb 13, 2025Lake Tyrrell, Victoria, Australia
Feb 25, 2026Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska
Jan 6, 2019A winter wonderland in Northeast China
Apr 9, 2023Happy Easter!
Jul 27, 2022Mada in Saleh, Saudi Arabia
Aug 15, 2022Indian Independence Day
Mar 5, 2021Reflecting on one of the world s strangest rivers
Dec 10, 2022Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
May 3, 2021It s Teacher Appreciation Week
Oct 24, 2024Bodie State Historic Park, California
Jan 10, 2018Weaverbird nests at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve
Aug 11, 2019Storm rolls over the grasslands
Jul 29, 2024International Tiger Day