Biologist who fought for panthers reinstated

[DoYouEverWonder]

June 30, 2005

For six years biologist Andy Eller reviewed development permits to make sure that subdivisions built in the western Everglades would not wipe out habitat for the endangered Florida panther.

But Eller's bosses at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service overruled him and developers went around him, even calling Florida's U.S. senators to get approval for projects.

Last year, Eller blew the whistle. He filed a formal complaint charging that the Fish and Wildlife Service was using flawed science and that its failure to oppose developers was jeopardizing the panther. He got fired.

Three months ago, the Fish and Wildlife Service conceded he was right after all, and its science was flawed. On Wednesday, the 46-year-old Eller was reinstated.

<snip>

However, agency officials said that decision would not affect any of the permits already approved.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/06/30/State/Biologist_who_fought_.shtml

[hatrack]

1. No, no, those permits are A-OK!!!

I'm so glad I don't live in Florida.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. I wonder how many of these permits

went to friends of Jeb?

[derbstyron]

3. I do. It sucks.

Jeb as a governor, Martinez as "my" senator and idiot as President.

These be some good times.

[hatrack]

4. I'm beginning to understand the source of Carl Hiassen's venom

And I'm sure you understand far more viscerally than I ever could . . .

[derbstyron]

5. self-delete

[Judi Lynn]

6. Truly good news and bad news, isn't it?

What a shame to know that panthers' natural habitat was the entire state and now there are only possibly 80 left, at most, and _Jeb's rotting administration wants to steal their only remaining land to benefit greedy developers.

The world can only recover IF the criminals in our government finally are voted out, and it means their filthy control of our voting procedures has to be pried out of their pudgey, sticky fingers.