The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that five animal species from American Samoa warrant listing as federally endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The species being proposed are the Pacific sheath-tailed bat, mao, American Samoa population of the friendly ground-dove, and two land snails.
This is the first time Endangered Species Act protections have been applied to species on the territory.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service says listing these five animals will help focus additional resources, conservation efforts and attention on addressing primary threats to the species, and in some cases, to returning them to places where they have been lost in the wild.
The Pacific sheath-tailed bat occurs in American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Vanuatu; the mao (a forest bird) formerly occurred in American Samoa and Samoa but is now likely extirpated from American Samoa.
Under this final rule, both species are now listed throughout their ranges. The friendly ground-dove also occurs in Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa, but the Service is listing only the population that occurs in American Samoa as a distinct population segment. Both land snails are endemic to American Samoa meaning they occur nowhere else on Earth.
Mary Abrams, Field Supervisor for the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office says the listing of these five species under the ESA will assist the Services in continuing to work with local leaders,and the people of American Samoa to recover these species so future generations of American Samoans can also enjoy what makes the islands of American Samoa unique and special.”
Several public hearings were held in the territory on the proposal to list the five animals under ESA.
