Trump is Trying to Cut Vital Conservation Funding

The US Rhinoceros and Tiger Convention fund is integral to financing international conservation efforts. It supports organisations aiming to protect various rhino and tiger species, including the critically endangered Sumatran rhino. The species only exists in Indonesia after it became extinct in Malaysia last year.

Donald Trump is now trying to cut the funding of the Convention fund by more than 50%. Currently, the law allows Congress to spend $10 million on rhino and tiger conservation efforts, but the institution rarely spends more than $3.5 million per year. The Trump Administration are demanding that the funding is cut down to $1.575 million.

The grant that the Convention fund distributes, finances much needed anti-poaching patrols. For instance, patrols are conducted in the habitats of Indonesian Sumatran rhinos - a species that is on the brink of extinction. The fund also finances important research related to the genetics of the species, which is vital, as it is difficult for Sumatran rhinos to reproduce. This, in turn, poses a challenge to conservationists working to preserve the species.

Time is running out to save the Sumatran rhino. Thus, it is critical that conservationists gain more genetic knowledge on the species so they can save it from extinction. Cutting the funding of the Convention fund would be abominable! Trump may just cause the loss of an entire species if he goes through with his plan!