A core provision of the Endangered Species Act requires what?

• A. Prohibits any harm to any animal in the wild
• B. Requires the federal government to protect all species listed as endangered
• C. Requires all citizens to report endangered species
• D. Creates a new federal judiciary for environmental cases

Answer: (B)

Protecting listed species and their habitats is what the Endangered Species Act centers on. When a species is listed as endangered or threatened, the federal government takes on a duty to conserve that species and to prevent its extinction. This includes ensuring that federal actions do not jeopardize the species’ continued existence and that critical habitats are protected, with recovery plans and safeguards put in place as needed. The idea is to coordinate government efforts to stabilize and restore populations so they can survive on their own.

The other options don’t fit because the act is not a blanket ban on harming any animal in the wild, and it does not require every citizen to report endangered species or create a separate federal court system.