Conservation
In 1900, one million Attwater's Prairie Chickens graced the coastal grasslands. Loss of habitat is believed to be the prime reason for their downfall. In addition to loss due to urbanization, the entire grassland ecosystem where they once thrived no longer exists in the same form. Where once grazing Plains Bison and periodic wildfires due to lightning reduced ground cover, the birds now have difficulty making their way through thick undergrowth. It is possible that other less-apparent changes in the ecosystem have had an effect as well.
Attwater's Prairie Chicken has been on the endangered species list since March 1967.
In 1998 it was estimated that only 260 remained, with less than 60 living in the wild. A subspecies, named the Katy Prairie Chicken once dominated the Katy Prairie. It has been determined that the Katy Mills Mall was built on their main habitat, driving it extinct. Captive breeding programs are underway at places such as Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Texas A&M University, Seaworld of Texas, and the Houston Zoo. There is also a small captive breeding colony residing on the grounds of the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center near Clear Lake.
Read more about this topic: Attwater's Prairie Chicken
Famous quotes containing the word conservation:
“A country grows in history not only because of the heroism of its troops on the field of battle, it grows also when it turns to justice and to right for the conservation of its interests.”
—Aristide Briand (1862–1932)
“The putting into force of laws which shall secure the conservation of our resources, as far as they may be within the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, including the more important work of saving and restoring our forests and the great improvement of waterways, are all proper government functions which must involve large expenditure if properly performed.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)