There’s a bird killer on the loose, a vicious murderer with an insatiable bloodlust for endangered species. His name is Elon Musk.
The Tesla tycoon hasn’t been doing the dirty work himself, but Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly decimating birds around the company’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
The surrounding land hosts an array of endangered animals, including sea turtles, ocelots, and hundreds of bird species, including the federally threatened Piper Rover.
Campaigners warn that SpaceX’s operations are destroying their habitats.According to an analysis byCoastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program,the region’sPiping Plover population has shrunk by 54% in the three years since the arrival of SpaceX.
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“Boca Chica is incredibly important to birds,”said EJ Williams, the American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) VP for the Southeast Region, in a statement.
“The SpaceX facility in Boca Chica is surrounded by federal and state public lands used by hundreds of thousands of individual birds of many different species throughout the year.”
Activists have raised concerns about the harm caused by rocket explosions, sonic booms, debris dropping from the sky, and increased traffic in the area. They also worry about the environmental impact of SpaceX’splans to drill for gasin the area.
SpaceX is expanding its operations in Boca Chica, TX without a complete assessment of environmental impacts. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is accepting comments on the project until next Monday, November 1st. Speak up now!https://t.co/TVundNiOeUpic.twitter.com/EAw09mCB5J
— American Bird Conservancy (@ABCbirds)October 26, 2021
Residents have alsoaccused SpaceXof ruining the neighborhood. Musk, however, has previously appeared dismissive of the effects on their lives.
“We’ve got a lot of land with nobody around, so if it blows up, it’s cool,” hereportedly saidin 2018.
Musk may strive tosave humanity by colonizing space, but it’s a shame he has to destroy some species on Earth in the process. Flying on SpaceX rockets won’t feel quite as fun if they’ve been built on tiny bird skeletons.
Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and government policy.Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and government policy.
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