Neither place is even close to being devoid of fauna. ANWR is home to one of the largest caribou herds in the world, moose, muskox, grizzly bears, wolves, all sorts of birds, etc.
The waters where this new monument was created host one of the most intact marine ecosystems in the world including lots of sharks!!
I think this is really cool. As far as I'm concerned, credit should be given where credit is due.