Archive for the ‘Conservation News’ Category

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”

EWA Files Suit Against USFWS

The Exotic Wildlife Association filed a civil action in the U.S. District Court in San Angelo, Texas against the USFWS on behalf of 13 EWA members.  This court action was taken in response to the USFWS refusal to acknowledge the EWA’s petition for delisting of the Scimitar Horned Oryx, Dama Gazelle, and Addax from the restrictions of the Endangered Species Act.  “This federal agency failed to act on our petition as required by law to delist these animals born in the United States from the ESA restrictions”, says Charly Seale, Executive Director of the Exotic Wildlife Association.  We do agree that these animals are endangered and on the brink of extinction in their native lands but thrive by the thousands on private ranches here in the United States.  Seale further stated that “if they want to see these animals truly become endangered then keep the cumbersome and archaic rules in place that currently exist under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The current administration that occupies the Department of Interior in general and more specifically the United States Fish and Wildlife Service live in a sterile environment and do not have a clue what U.S. ranchers have done to preserve these endangered and threatened species.”

The EWA’s mission is to encourage and expand the conservation of indigenous and non-indigenous hoofstock animals, and to help their Members develop and strengthen the markets for their animals. To learn more about the EWA or to find out how to join, visit www.exoticwildlifeassociation.com

Central Texas Safari Club 2011 Gala – Oct. 25

Join Central Texas Safari Club in a fun filled night with a gourmet wild game banquet dinner, entertainment, cash bar with Happy Hour Specials, raffles and auctions. This event will definitely sell out! Make sure you don’t miss what’s to be one of the greatest parties of the year!

Event: 2011 Central Texas Safari Club Hunter’s Legacy Gala
“Hunt Texas – Live Big”

Date: Tuesday – October 25, 2011

Location: The Historic Austin Club 110 E. 9th Street, Austin, TX 78701

Vendors available:  2:30 – 6 PM
Cocktail Hour: 5 – 7 PM
Banquet doors open: 6 PM

For more information, contact leanncollins29@gmail.com