In his final months in office, Donald Trump has ramped up construction on his promised physical border between the US and Mexico \u2013 devastating wildlife habitats and increasing the migrant death toll
<\/p>
At Sierra Vista Ranch in Arizona near the Mexican border, Troy McDaniel is warming up his helicopter. McDaniel, tall and slim in a tan jumpsuit, began taking flying lessons in the 80s, and has since logged 2,000 miles in the air. The helicopter, a cosy, two-seater Robinson R22 Alpha is considered a work vehicle and used to monitor the 640-acre ranch, but it\u2019s clear he relishes any opportunity to fly. \u201cWe will have no fun at all,\u201d he deadpans.<\/p>
McDaniel and his wife, Melissa Owen, bought their ranch and the 100-year-old adobe house that came with it in 2003. Years before, Owen began volunteering at the nearby Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, and fell in love with the beauty and natural diversity of the area, as well as the quiet of their tiny town. That all changed last July when construction vehicles and large machinery started \u201cbarrelling down the two-lane state road\u201d, says Owen.<\/p>
This is not about protecting America. It\u2019s about protecting President Trump\u2019s own interests<\/p>
We had three different jaguars in 2016 \u2013 we haven\u2019t seen signs of any since construction began<\/p>
As you keep building, you keep pushing people into more remote and dangerous areas<\/p> Continue reading...<\/a>\n