Defenders of Wildlife

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Defenders of Wildlife is a United States non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1947 out of concern for perceived cruelties of the use of steel-jawed leghold traps for trapping fur-bearing animals. The organization was originally called Defenders of Fur Bearers and its mission was focused on North American mammals. Today, the organization's mission is broader and includes preservation and conservation actions concerning organisms, both animals and plants, preservation of biodiversity, and threats to habitats. They advocate for the Endangered Species Act in the United States through lobbying and by using the legal system for the protection of endangered or threatened species. They have offices in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Defenders of Wildlife focuses its programs on the accelerating rate of extinction of species and the associated loss of biological diversity and habitat alteration and destruction. Defenders of Wildlife also advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that will help keep species from becoming endangered. Its programs encourage protection of entire ecosystems and interconnected habitats while protecting predators that serve as indicator species for ecosystem health. Its sister organization, Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, lobbies and works to influence legislative action. [1]

Contents 1 Predator conservation 2 Awards 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Predator conservation

Much of Defenders' work involves the protection of North American carnivores and predators, primarily wolves and grizzly bears but also including lynx, black bear, jaguar and Florida panther conservation.^[1] However, all of this is changed when it comes to certain areas like the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. In the seashore, "predator removal" is the method endorsed by Audubon and Defenders of Wildlife. This means the killing of foxes and raccoons. ^[2]

[edit] Awards

Defenders was named America's Best Wildlife Charity in 2005 by the Reader's Digest.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Defenders.org
• SaveWolves.org
• DefendersActionFund.org
• SaveArcticRefuge.org
• Defenders Action Center
• KidsPlanet.org
• ExxposeExxon Defenders of Wildlife is a founding member of this environmental group organized to call attention to activities of ExxonMobil which are considered environmentally harmful.