The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared 21 species extincton Monday, nearly doubling the number of species delisted under the Endangered Species Act due to their eradication.
The list, which contains 10 species of birds, two fish species, eight species of mussels, and one mammal, contains a majority of organisms that were originally listed under the ESA in the 1970s and ‘80s.
“Federal protection came too late to reverse these species’ decline, and it’s a wake-up call on the importance of conserving imperiled species before it’s too late,” agency Director Martha Williams said in a statement.