Trump Sued for Removing Protections as Only 51 Rice’s Whales Face Extinction Risk

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Conservation groups are suing the Trump administration for removing critical protections that shielded the endangered Rice's whale from deadly ship collisions.

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With only 51 Rice's whales left in the Gulf of Mexico, experts warn these marine mammals face imminent extinction without immediate intervention.

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The revoked safety measures had required oil and gas vessels to slow down to 10 nautical miles per hour in whale habitats and avoid these areas during nighttime.

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Trump is dealing a death blow to the critically endangered Rice's whale in the name of Big Oil handouts," said Friends of the Earth legal director Hallie Templeton.

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Scientists determined the fragile whale population can withstand just one human-caused death every 33 years if there's any hope for recovery.

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The protection rollback stems directly from Trump's "Unleashing American Energy" order, prioritizing fossil fuel interests over environmental safeguards.

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Conservation groups have given officials 60 days to reinstate these vital protections before they escalate to federal court action.

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Recent scientific evidence revealed these endangered whales inhabit much more of the Gulf than previously thought, making the removed protections even more crucial.

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