Expected Announcement From U.S. FWS Will Close Elephant Imports From Zimbabwe, Tanzania

[AfricaHunting.com]

Washington, D.C. Statement By Safari Club International President Craig Kauffman

"Safari Club International's advocacy team is alerting the international conservation community that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to soon announce a new policy to reject all elephant ivory imports from Zimbabwe and Tanzania. It is unknown precisely when the decision by the U.S. FWS will occur, but SCI will do everything in its power to fight this reckless decision that has no basis in law, science, or conservation policy.

"International hunters are the first line of defense for conservation, management, and anti-poaching throughout Africa. When wildlife has no value, it will most certainly be slaughtered indiscriminately. In 2003 trophy hunting generated $12 billion Zimbabwe dollars and accounted for approximately 60-90% of all revenues for that country's Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management. SCI's members have purchased bull elephant tags to benefit the CAMPFIRE Foundation in Zimbabwe who conduct anti-poaching work throughout the communal lands of their country. SCI's members have paid more than $100,000 to support elephant conservation from 2012-2014, whereas the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has spent only $56,000 to protect Zimbabwe's elephants from 2011-2013 through the Multinational Species Conservation Grants.

"Safari Club does not know all the details of the upcoming announcement by U.S. FWS to halt importations of elephant ivory from these two countries, but we do know the announcement could come soon. SCI's Washington team will do everything within our power to fight back against this misguided and baseless policy."



Contact: Nelson Freeman, Media@safariclub.org

Safari Club International First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI's approximately 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. SCI's proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.safariclub.org or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.



Source: Safari Club International (SCI)

 

[TOM]

Hmm.

 

[Cliffy]

It begs the question-- Why?

 

[Hank2211]

Canada has so far not followed the lead of the US on these things - we follow CITES. Let's hope this continues - although irrational behaviour seems oddly catching.

 

[Oddbod]

It begs the question-- Why?

To satisfy the strident demands of shallow thinking bunny huggers.
You know; the same people who would rather elk & deer naturally overpopulate then starve to death during hard winters.

 

[enysse]

Everyone was worried about lions and they skipped right ahead to taking elephant hunting away in Zim and Tanzania.....Oh the science behind this one.

 

[bphillips]

Wish I cold have afforded it before all this. Definitely a dream animal for me. These people ruin the existence of the great animals in the world by putting very high black market prices on their heads.

 

[gxsr-sarge]

OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!

I was thinking about swapping my 2015 tuskless elephant hunt in Zim to a bull hunt but I guess that may be all taken care of now....

I wonder if the import restriction will also apply to hide, etc.?

 

[Bwana4]

Obama can't stop you from hunting but he can stop the imports. Truly a terrible regime

 

[RogerHeintzman]

One article states Ivory another states trophy which would mean all animal parts.

Check this link, if it shows up right.

Fish and Wildlife Service News Release System

I have a client leaving next week.

"A dream can be relived, again and again in Africa."

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Not that I support the decision, but I have been reading that ele poaching has rapidly escalated. Google up Chinese investment in Zim and Tanzania and I think you'll see the root cause.

This will by and large effectively end ele hunting with Moz still on the non-export list and the closure of Bots. Those Namibia Caprivi strip hunts just got really expensive.

 

[sestoppelman]

This is just another example of what happens when we, the stupid voters of America vote for demtards! It makes people "feel good", like they are doing something to help the animals. We all know how stupid this is, but it makes them feel good. Stupid!

 

[RogerHeintzman]

I suspect the lion will be next at the next CITIES convention.

"A dream can be relived, again and again in Africa."

 

[BRICKBURN]

WTF!

That should shake the safari world to its very bones.

Ouch.

 

[PaulT]

This is the most significant erosion to the Global sporting safari industry in recent time.

Even if you never had any interest or inclination to hunt Elephant, this latest moronic decision by U.S.F.W.S WILL EFFECT YOU, ME, AND EVRYONE INVOLVED WITH THIS SPORT AND THE INDUSTRY.

This, the latest, veiled attempt to "save" the Elephant will do nothing more than remove existing poacher programs paid for, and organized by, the safari operators/industry and create a "free-for-all" for the organized ivory-mafia to come in and do as they please.

As I once stated to a previous president of a W.W.F chapter, who was hell bent on "educating" me on his spin on "conservation";

# exclusion DOES NOT WORK !

Exclusion has NOT saved the wildlife in Kenya.
Exclusion has not saved the Indian Tiger or any other wildlife in India for that matter.
Exclusion will not save the African Lion
Exclusion will not save the Elephant.

If you are not a potential Elephant hunter, and think this does not effect YOU, consider;

# the effects of this decision on the Zim and Tanz safari industry of operators
and how this will reverberate and ripple through ALL safari content through ALL hunt-able countries in Africa.

ALL hunters need to put their personal agendas and preconceived notions aside and help financially support Safari Club International by way of membership dues in order to assist with a counter-attack NOW !
Money talks, bull-shit walks.

Our sport is under serious threat.

Lets put our hands in our wallets, dig deep and fight this ridiculous decision.

It appears, at least on the surface, that the mentality behind the U.S.F.W.S has been infiltrated by the "conservationaly-challenged".

 

[BRICKBURN]

SUSPENSION OF ELEPHANT IMPORTS USFWS - Q&A


Suspension of Import of Elephant Hunting Trophies
Taken in Tanzania and Zimbabwe in 2014


Questions & Answers
On April 4, 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a suspension of imports of sport-hunted African elephant trophies taken in Tanzania and Zimbabwe during calendar year 2014.
Why has the Service made this decision?

Tanzania's and Zimbabwe's elephants face an uncertain future.
Questionable management practices, a lack of effective law enforcement, and weak governance have resulted in uncontrolled poaching and catastrophic population declines in Tanzania. For example, the Selous, Africa's largest protected area, has lost 66 percent of its elephants in the past five years.

In Zimbabwe, available data, though limited, indicate a significant decline in the elephant population, while anecdotal evidence, such as the widely publicized poisoning of 300 elephants last year in Hwange National Park, suggests that Zimbabwe's elephants are also under siege. Recent information on the status of Zimbabwe's elephant population, management plans, hunting policies and regulations is limited. However, the information that is available raises significant concerns about the long-term survival of elephants in Zimbabwe.

Sport hunting, as part of a sound management program, can provide benefits to conservation. Yet, given the current situation in Tanzania and what is known of the situation in Zimbabwe for elephants, the Service does not believe that the benefits of sport hunting will be realized. Further, the Service is concerned that additional killing of elephants in both Tanzania and Zimbabwe, even if legal, is not sustainable at this time.

Does the Service plan to shut down all sport-hunting of African elephants?
No. Legal, well-regulated sport hunting, as part of a sound management program, can benefit the conservation of listed species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation. At this time, the Service does not have conservation concerns with sport hunting of African elephants in Namibia, South Africa, or Botswana; though it should be noted that Botswana is not currently open to sport hunting.
Hunters should choose to hunt in countries that have only strong governance, sound management practices, and healthy elephant populations.

I hunted an elephant in Tanzania/Zimbabwe prior to 2014, but have not yet imported the trophy. Will I be able to do so?
Yes. The decision to suspend the import of sport-hunted trophies from Tanzania and Zimbabwe applies only to elephants taken in calendar year 2014. If you plan to import an African elephant sport-hunted trophy from either of these countries, you will need to provide documentation that the elephant was taken prior to 2014.

I have already purchased a hunt in Tanzania or Zimbabwe. How do I get my money back?
We encourage you to contact your hunting outfitter to discuss options. While you can still participate in a hunt in 2014, you would not be able to import the trophy. In addition, given the conservation concerns for elephants in Tanzania and Zimbabwe, we strongly advise that you reconsider taking part in an elephant hunt in either of these countries.

When will the Service reevaluate the suspension on imports of sport-hunted African elephant trophies from Tanzania and Zimbabwe?
These findings are made on an annual basis. We will reevaluate the situation in Tanzania and Zimbabwe for elephant trophies taken in calendar year 2015. If the Service receives information that indicates a significant improvement for elephants in these countries, we could reevaluate the suspension prior to 2015.

An import permit is not required to import an elephant trophy from Zimbabwe into the United States. What authority does the Service have to restrict imports and how would the restriction be enforced?
African elephants from Zimbabwe are included in CITES Appendix II for the purpose of non-commercial trade in hunting trophies, among other things. As with all CITES Appendix II specimens, an import permit is not required. However, the listing of African elephants under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) contains a provision that requires the Service to make a determination that the import of an elephant trophy would enhance the survival of the species. The Service must make this enhancement finding to be able to clear the elephant trophy at the time of import. With the 2014 suspension of imports, the Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement would either refuse entry or seize any specimen that was taken in 2014 at the time of import. By announcing this suspension before trophies are sent to the United States, the Service hopes to avoid having to refuse or seize shipments upon importation.

Where should I send additional questions? If you have specific questions regarding the import of sport-hunted trophies, please send an email to managementauthority@fws.gov or call 1-800-358-2104.

 

[BRICKBURN]

USFWS SUSPENDS ELEPHANT IMPORTS 2014

One article states Ivory another states trophy which would mean all animal parts.

Check this link, if it shows up right.

Fish and Wildlife Service News Release System

I have a client leaving next week.

"A dream can be relived, again and again in Africa."

The contents of the news release:

Service Suspends Import of Elephant Trophies from Tanzania and Zimbabwe
April 4, 2014

Contacts:
Gavin Shire
703-346-9123
gavin_shire@fws.gov


The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a suspension on imports of sport-hunted African elephant trophies taken in Tanzania and Zimbabwe during calendar year 2014. Questionable management practices, a lack of effective law enforcement and weak governance have resulted in uncontrolled poaching and catastrophic population declines of African elephants in Tanzania. In Zimbabwe, available data, though limited, indicate a significant decline in the elephant population. Anecdotal evidence, such as the widely publicized poisoning last year of 300 elephants in Hwange National Park, suggests that Zimbabwe's elephants are also under siege.

Given the current situation on the ground in both Tanzania and Zimbabwe, the Service is unable to make positive findings required under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Endangered Species Act to allow import of elephant trophies from these countries. Additional killing of elephants in these countries, even if legal, is not sustainable and is not currently supporting conservation efforts that contribute towards the recovery of the species.

The decision to suspend the import of sport-hunted trophies from Tanzania and Zimbabwe applies to elephants taken in 2014. The Service will reevaluate this suspension for calendar year 2015 or upon receipt of new information that demonstrates an improved situation for elephants in these countries.

Legal, well-regulated sport hunting, as part of a sound management program, can benefit the conservation of listed species by providing incentives to local communities to conserve the species and by putting much-needed revenue back into conservation. At this time, the Service does not have conservation concerns with African elephant sport hunting in Namibia, South Africa, or Botswana; though it should be noted that Botswana is not currently open to sport hunting.

For more information, please visit Sport-hunted Trophies.

 

[Oddbod]

I have already purchased a hunt in Tanzania or Zimbabwe. How do I get my money back?
We encourage you to contact your hunting outfitter to discuss options. While you can still participate in a hunt in 2014, you would not be able to import the trophy. In addition, given the conservation concerns for elephants in Tanzania and Zimbabwe, we strongly advise that you reconsider taking part in an elephant hunt in either of these countries

Don't you just love how governments can make something worthless after the fact without any offer of compensation?

 

[SafariA]

Yes it is very sad that all counries sign to abide by the Cites treaty and in general keep to that except USFW ..... They are apparently live in their own world ! This will be the start of much bigger things .... This is not a threat to elephants . It will expand to othher species and Lion will surely be next .

 

[Royal27]

OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!

I was thinking about swapping my 2015 tuskless elephant hunt in Zim to a bull hunt but I guess that may be all taken care of now....

I wonder if the import restriction will also apply to hide, etc.?

I was wondering the same thing Sarge... As you know, my cousin is doing tuskless in August and of course you next year...

Funny how our government follows treaties when they like them and ignores them when they don't....