What legislation prohibits the killing, harming, or collecting of endangered species?

The Endangered Species Act is the legislation that specifically prohibits the killing, harming, or collecting of endangered species. This act was enacted to provide a framework for the conservation and recovery of species at risk of extinction. It establishes legal protections for both the species themselves and their habitats, ensuring that efforts are made to prevent their decline and facilitate their recovery. This act holds federal agencies accountable for considering the impact of their actions on endangered and threatened species, promoting a balance between development and conservation.

The other options play important roles in environmental and wildlife protection but do not specifically address the prohibition of actions against endangered species like the Endangered Species Act does. For instance, the Wildlife Protection Act may focus on broader wildlife conservation measures, while the National Parks Act primarily concerns the management and preservation of national parks. The Environmental Protection Agency Act is centered on safeguarding human health and the environment, which, while related, does not uniquely focus on endangered species protection.