美國參議院4月5日一致通過一項法案，定每年的5月11日為瀕危物種日。這項由美國國會提出的法案，旨在「教育並喚起國人認識瀕危動物處境與復育成功案例，與推廣全球性物種保育」。
引介這項立法的加州民主黨參議員范恩斯坦表示，「加州對保育的努力已協助復育了加州兀鷹、冬溯大鱗鮭魚（chinook salmon）以及加州灰鯨的數量。但是要做的還有更多，同時我希望『瀕危物種日』將能為全國的保育工作點燃驚奇與興趣的火花。」
美國1,800餘種列名「受威脅」與「瀕危」等級的物種中，至少有100個成功的保育案例。為了向大眾推廣這些成功的保育故事，美國「生物多樣性研究中心」已架設一個網站，詳細描述在美國各州和領地裡扭轉100種瀕危物種數量下降趨勢的各種努力。生物多樣性研究中心政策執行長撒克林(Kieran Suckling)稱《瀕危物種法》為「美國最成功的保育法之一」。
《瀕危物種法》最廣為人知的成功案例包括美國國徽上的白頭海鵰。白頭海鵰數量從1963年的417對增加到2006年的9,250對。美國魚類暨野生動物署認為該物種目前狀況良好，該署目前正執行一項1999年的提案，要將白頭海鵰從瀕危物種法保護名單中除名。
從瀕危物種法案保護名單中除名後，白頭海鵰仍將繼續受到《白頭海鵰與金鷹保護法》以及《候鳥協議》的保護。兩種法案都禁止殺害、販賣或其他傷害這些老鷹、鷹巢與鳥蛋的行為。
美國「瀕危物種聯盟」的松本（Sarah Matsumoto）表示：「史上第一次的瀕危物種日，讓我們有機會來慶祝美國對保護特殊野生動植物的承諾與付出。不論老少，瀕危物種日對人們來說都是一個絕佳機會，可認識我國野生動物，並參與保護瀕危種物種及其棲息地的工作。」更多詳情可點閱瀕危物種聯盟網站。
The U.S. Senate has declared May 11 to be Endangered Species Day. The resolution, passed unanimously on April 5 states that the purpose of the Day is to "encourage the people of the United States to become educated about, and aware of, threats to species, success stories in species recovery, and the opportunity to promote species conservation worldwide."
"California's conservation efforts have already helped restore California condor, winter run chinook salmon, and California gray whale populations," said Senator Diane Feinstein of California, a Democrat, who introduced the legislation. "But more still needs to be done, and I hope that Endangered Species Day will spark wonder and interest in conservation efforts throughout the country."
There are at least 100 success stories among the more than 1,800 species now listed as threatened and endangered in the United States. To bring these conservation successes into the spotlight, the Center for Biological Diversity has created a website detailing the efforts reversed the decline of these 100 endangered species in every U.S. state and territory. Kieran Suckling, policy director of the Center for Biological Diversity, calls the Endangered Species Act "one of America’s most successful conservation laws."
The Endangered Species Act's best known successes include the U.S. national symbol, the bald eagle. Numbers increased from 417 pairs in 1963 to 9,250 pairs in 2006. Saying the species is healthy now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is acting on a 1999 proposal to remove the bald eagle from Endangered Species Act protection.
Once delisted from the Endangered Species Act, bald eagles will continue to be protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Both acts prohibit killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.
"This first-ever Endangered Species Day gives us a chance to celebrate America's commitment to protecting our unique wildlife," said Sarah Matsumoto of the Endangered Species Coalition. "Endangered Species Day is a great opportunity for young and old alike to learn about our nation's wildlife and get involved in protecting endangered species and their habitat."
To visit the Endangered Species Coalition online, click here.
