The first purpose of ESA, as written into the law, is the preservation and restoration of the ecosystem on which the species depend. We seem to get so wrapped up in killing the "right" amount that we don't really deal with the ecosystem as a whole.

In the current political climate we often see deflection, wherein we get a Tweet that bios people's blood while, hidden from view, something else is done.

As Slab alludes, we look at the Columbia Dams, fulminate over them, and completely miss/ignore the rape of the food pyramid. We scream about predators and ignore ocean plastics. Such deflection ensures nothing meaningful gets done.