Your cart is currently empty!
Newly built border wall segment further endangers rare desert fish, conservation organization says
A newly built segment of border wall in southern Arizona will keep out more than just illegal immigrants, a nonprofit conservation organization says.
The border wall segment and a “paved road across Arizona’s California Gulch is blocking streamflow critical to the survival of one of only two U.S. populations of Sonora chub,” a press release from the Center for Biological Diversity reads.
The “rare desert fish” is a “small, moderately chubby fish that feasts on a variety of native food sources and has a unique and distinctly red coloration on the underside when in breeding condition,” the organization says.
“The new wall and road will push these imperiled fish to the brink of extinction,” Krista Kemppinen, Ph.D., a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement.
LINDSEY GRAHAM DEFENDS KASH PATEL IN HEATED EXCHANGE WITH CBS HOST
A then and now look at the section of border wall in southern Arizona that impacts the endangered Sonora chub fish. (Russ McSpadden/Center for Biological Diversity)
“The Sonora chub’s survival depends on being able to access scarce desert water on both sides of the border, exchange genetic material with nearby populations in Mexico, and bolster its populations with upstream migrations of fish from Sonora after droughts. The new construction makes all that impossible,” she continued.
The organization drew attention to the matter just days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to retake office and ramp up his border security efforts.
TRUMP TO BE SWORN IN ON BIBLE GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS MOTHER, AND THE LINCOLN BIBLE
A closeup look of the endangered Sonora chub, a “stream-dwelling minnow” that is usually five to seven inches long. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
“Designating California Gulch as critical habitat is more urgent than ever to minimize other threats, such as by keeping cows out of the Sonora chub’s pools,” Kemppinen said in the statement. “It’s also imperative that carefully designed culverts be added to the new border infrastructure to allow at least some semblance of a natural streamflow and migration. If federal officials are serious about saving this fish, they need to act now.”
Earlier this month, Trump set off a fiery debate over whether Democrats should be to blame for California’s wildfires after he accused Gov. Gavin Newsom of caring more about protecting endangered fish species known as smelt than protecting the state’s residents from wildfires.
President Donald Trump speaks with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott as they participates in a ceremony commemorating the 200th mile of border wall at the international border with Mexico in San Luis, Arizona, on June 23, 2020. (SAUL LOEB/AFP )
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump set off a firestorm on Wednesday when he called out Newsom on his Truth Social platform for wanting “to protect an essentially worthless fish” over protecting the water needs of Californians. The comments are not new, however. In the run-up to the November election, Trump made the claim during an October interview with podcaster Joe Rogan.
Neither the Center for Biological Diversity nor the Trump transition team responded to a request for comment regarding this story.
Fox News’ Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
The construction of a newly built border wall segment along the U.S.-Mexico border is causing concern for the endangered desert pupfish, a rare species of fish that inhabits the region. According to a conservation organization, the wall is further endangering the already declining population of these unique fish.
The desert pupfish, known for its ability to survive in extreme desert conditions, has already been facing threats from habitat destruction and water pollution. The construction of the border wall is now posing an additional threat to their survival, as it disrupts their natural habitat and blocks their migration patterns.
Conservationists are calling for action to protect the desert pupfish and other endangered species that are being affected by the border wall construction. They are urging policymakers to consider the environmental impacts of the wall and to find alternative solutions that will not harm these vulnerable species.
As the debate over border security continues, it is important to remember the important role that conservation plays in protecting our planet’s biodiversity. The desert pupfish is just one example of the many species that are at risk of extinction due to human activities, and it is crucial that we take action to preserve their habitats and ensure their survival for future generations.
Tags:
- Border wall impact on rare desert fish
- Conservation organization warns of border wall threat
- Endangered desert fish at risk from new border wall segment
- Protecting rare fish from border wall construction
- Environmental concerns over new border wall segment
- Rare desert fish endangered by border wall project
- Conservation efforts threatened by border wall expansion
- Border wall impact on desert fish habitat
- Endangered species threatened by border wall construction
- Conservation group raises alarm about border wall’s impact on rare fish
#Newly #built #border #wall #segment #endangers #rare #desert #fish #conservation #organization
Leave a Reply