Archive for the ‘Conservation News’ Category

Congressman Carter Calling For a Block of Recent ‘Death Warrant’ Ruling

‘Carter fights to block potential mass killing of endangered African antelope‘

(WASHINGTON, DC) – The majority of the world’s known population of three endangered African antelope species could be culled this spring unless a controversial ruling by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is overruled by Congress and the President, according to House Republican Conference Secretary John R. Carter (TX-31).

“This case makes glaringly clear why extremist groups cannot be allowed to use the courts to make legislative decisions,” Carter says.  “This change in regulations will lead to the forced culling of the majority of these species on game ranches in North America, and will likely end in the disappearance of all three species on this continent within a decade, greatly increasing their chances of worldwide extinction.”

Carter is introducing legislation to restore the original USFWS ruling that allows hunting preserves to stock, breed, hunt, and preserve the species, under which the antelope were saved from extinction over past decades.   Lawsuits by extremist animal rights groups led to the agency’s revocation of those rules.   As a result, game ranchers will be economically forced to cull their herds of African antelope by April unless the rules are changed.

“Our goal is to save these species from extinction,” says Carter. “This ruling, if allowed to stand, could in fact eliminate these magnificent animals from the face of the earth, for no reason other than the advancement of a radical political philosophy.  We cannot allow that to happen, for the sake of future generations of both people and wildlife.”

CBS News 60 Minutes on this issue: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7396862n&tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea.6

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Rule Notice:
http://www.fws.gov/international/DMA_DSA/threeantelopefinalrule.html

U.S. Rep. John Carter
http://carter.house.gov/
31st District of Texas
409 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Contact: John.Stone@mail.house.gov; (202) 225-3864

Exotic Hunting Featured on 60 Minutes

If you missed last night’s ’60 Minutes’ segment on Exotic Hunting in Texas, it’s definitely a ‘must see’!  The recent ruling by the US Fish & Wildlife Service regarding the scimitar-horned oryx, addax antelope and dama gazelle has created a whirlwind of buzz, not only in the exotic industry, but making it’s way into the national forum.

The popular CBS primetime show presents an unbiased take on the current situation in the fight to “save” these 3 rare species from the brink of extinction.  Both sides of this heated debate are given their chance to state their case on the behalf of the side they represent as to why hunting exotics in Texas should (or should not) be allowed to continue and what best benefits these unique animals long term.

The Exotic Wildlife Association’s Executive Director, Charly Seale as well as leading conservationists and a pioneer in the exotic breeding industry are asked about the role exotic hunting and hunters play in the survival of several species, critically endangered in their native lands.  The show also talks to Priscilla Farrell, president of the animal rights group ‘Friends of Animals’.  She believes that raising animals to be hunted is immoral and should not be anyone’s right.

Check out the show and see what you think and let us know where you stand…feel free to leave your comments & feedback, no matter what side of the debate that you’re on.

Click here for the full video>>>‘Can hunting exotic animals save the species?’

Thanks again to Charly Seale for his representation on the behalf of the exotic breeding and hunting industry!

DSC Hosts Permitting Seminar w/ USFW

The Dallas Safari Club will be hosting representative Timothy Van Norman, Chief of Permitting for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  He will be conducting a 1-day seminar on the proper way to fill out the Captive Breeders Permit and the “Cull and Take” Permit for any of the Endangered Species you may have on your ranch. This seminar will be presented by officials from the permit office in Washington D.C.

Date: Thursday, January 26th
Location: Y.O. Hotel in Kerrville, TX (Spanish Oak Room)

This FREE seminar will begin at 9:00 A.M. and will conclude at 2:00 P.M. Lunch will be from 12:00-1:00 P.M. This meal is not provided but there is an excellent buffet at the hotel should attendees choose to eat there.

This seminar comes on the heels of the USFW’s ruling earlier this month concerning the scimitar-horned oryx, addax antelope & dama gazelle.  These 3 species will soon be subject to special permitting in order to hunt as well as buy, sell & transport them across state lines as of April 4, 2012.  There was some discussion as to whether or not organizations like the Dallas Safari Club, Exotic Wildlife Association and others would support such a seminar, as they did not wish the USFW to perceive this “open door” as complete acceptance and compliance to this controversial ruling.

‘Three Species’ Ruling – The Final Chapter?

At AAE, we have been trying our best to keep our followers informed as to the lengthy, on-going battle to save 3 of our beloved exotic species from what many believe will result in a very sad and unfortunate (and likely severe) decline in currently thriving populations of each species.

We have just received word today that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s ruling on the future status of the 3 African antelope species (scimitar-horned oryx, addax antelope, and dama gazelle) in the U.S has been made public, signaling a closing chapter in this epic saga.

via the Exotic Wildlife Association (EWA) Membership Alert – 1/4/2012:

In the Exotic Wildlife Association’s effort to keep our membership up to date concerning the latest information regarding the “Three Species” (Scimitar Horned Oryx, Addax, and Dama Gazelle) we have received an advanced copy of the new rule that will be posted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service…The new rule will take effect 90 days after its publication in the Federal Registry on January 5, 2012. This means that those breeders who currently own one or more of the species will have until April 4, 2012 to obtain permits or legally sell their animals.  This rule will replace the exemption from the provisions of the ESA that was given to these three species in 2005.

The new ruling means that after April 3, 2012, ranchers housing these 3 species will no longer be able to breed, transport or take any animal without first going through the required permitting process(es) to do so.  It appears as though, the new permitting system will act much like those currently presiding over barasingha, eld’s deer, and red lechwe.  Permits for these animals generally take 6-12 months to acquire [no one knows yet how long the new process for the '3 Species' will take] and infringements come with harsh penalties due to their direct violation of the Lacey Act.  For these reasons (among others), most owners of the oryx, addax and dama species will elect not to apply for the permits, thus all but forcing them to reduce or eliminate their current herds entirely.

In the next 3 months we can expect: Live sale market value plummeting, the number of breeding facilities and ranches with the ’3 Species’ reduced drastically, the cost to hunt these species dropping significantly and harvest numbers skyrocketing.

Hopefully one day, proponents of this new ruling will be able to explain to us how this could possibly be in the best interest of these amazing species long-term.

To read the USF&W’s entire press release, click here —“Service Repeals Regulatory Exclusion for Captive-Bred African Antelope Species under the Endangered Species Act”