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More than 1,000 animal species would be seriously threatened if the border wall proposed by US President Donald Trump with Mexico was built, warn scientists
. Iconic creatures such as the Bighorn Peninsular Sheep, the Mexican Gray Wolf and Sonoran The American Antelopes – which are already endangered – would see their populations dangerously fragmented by a wall, says the letter published in the journal BioScience .
Jaguars Panthera onca and Ocelots Leopardus pardalis would be among the species that would have "residual US populations" covering 20,000 square kilometers (7,800 square miles) or less , increasing their risk of dying completely in the United States.
More than 2,700 scientists from around the world signed the letter from lead author Robert Peters of Defenders of Wildlife, a conservation group.
The letter details threats to biodiversity along the 3,200 km border between the United States and Mexico, which Trump wants to block to stop the flow of illegal migrants
"Construction of fences and walls over the last decade and Trump administration efforts to complete a border wall threaten some of the most biologically diverse regions of the continent, "said the letter.
"The already constructed sections of the wall reduce the area, quality and connectivity of plant and animal habitats and compromise more," he added, lamenting that "the attention political and media … often underestimates or distorts damage to biodiversity. "
When animal populations are fragmented, they find it harder to find partners, food, water and safe habitat , and face greater risks of extinction.
"Cut off like this, the bighorn sheep of America and other animals and plants will become zombie species – populations that are demographically and genetically condemned, "said co-author and biologist Stanford University Rodolfo Dirzo.
The border region includes more than 1,000 animals and more than 400 plants.
A total of 62 of these species are "already in danger critical. "Endangered, or vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, said the letter.
Paul Ehrlich, co-author and professor of biology at Stanford University, said the wall and construction and maintenance infrastructure "
The letter urged US authorities to identify species threatened by the construction of the wall, to design barriers that allow wildlife to cross as much as possible and to purchase or restore alternative habitat when environmental damage is unavoidable. 19659002] As of today, a US law passed in 2005 gives the Department of Homeland Security the power to waive protections such as the Endangered Species Act if they are considered to be slowing down the construction of the wall.
The Trump Wall still has not secured major funding. A bill that would have included US $ 25 billion to fund it failed last month in the House of Representatives.
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