Perhaps concerned by whispers about a particular lame-duck, the Bush administration today added the Beluga Whale of Alaska’s Cook Inlet to the list of endangered species, despite opposition from another Alakan native, Sarah Palin.   While I’m thrilled that the threatened Beluga population will receive protection it deserves, instead of Gov. Palin’s bridge and tunnel plans, it strikes me as too little, too late for W’s attempt at environmental stewardship.   But, better late than never, I suppose.   The L.A. Times reports that:

As a practical matter, the new protections mean that new offshore oil drilling, a new bridge and other industrial activities that involve federal dollars or scrutiny will have to show that they will not harm the estimated 375 beluga whales that remain in local waters.

Check out this Beluga birth that Gina brought us back in June:

takepart by showing the presidential candidates the World Wildlife Fund’s Conservation GreenPrint.

And learn more about Endagered Whales and other species from these previous posts:

Government Acts to Protect North Atlantic Right Whale

They’re Back! “Save the Whales” Starts to Pay Off

Top 5 Wins for Endangered Species This Week

Inconvenient Truth Of The Day