Thought the group might want the latest details, as provided by me as hearsay.
ConservationForce.Org is reporting that none of the USFWS permits for 2018 have been reviewed on a "case by case" basis as defined here has occurred whatsoever: https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...hies-taken-on-or-after-january-21-2016-and-on
They did report that Tanzania Lion permits, quantity 30, that had not been reviewed by USFWS since 2016 are flowing out now. Laughably, they are sending permits that are no longer valid (12 month window) so the permits are literally not worth the paper they are printed on.
Anyway, back to USFWS elephants permits for Zimbabwe: At the end of the Federal register statement above, the USFWS also state " In addition, the Service will reevaluate the status of African elephants in Zimbabwe before the end of 2018 and make a new finding in the beginning of 2019 for, at least, the 2019 hunting season."
As those of you with calendars may be aware, their promise has come and gone unanswered.
Steps that many are taking:
ConservationForce.org will represent individuals that wish to have them process their permits. They are also contemplating legal action to compel USFWS to adhere to the law and rules they have stated in the Federal register.
Possible scenarios:
1.) Trump wins a reelection, then releases permits.
2.) USFWS loses the lawsuit, permits are released.
3.) USFWS issues ruling banning permit issuance for 2019 onward.
4.) USFWS reviews all 2018 permits as described, on a "Case by case" basis and rejects them all.
5.) Future permits are all ended, those that got their application in queue get approved as the last of their kind.
6.) USFWS falls madly in love with the compelling science, approves all permits in due course, and importation in the future from Zimbabwe resumes completely unfettered. (This scenario is the least likely of all 6)
As a consequence of the USFWS delayed action and ambiguity, elephant hunting prices in Zimbabwe are at an all time low. Even though exportable, the restrictions on importation to the US and elsewhere have reduced trophy elephant hunts to the price of non-trophy cow hunts. Even then, reports indicate that there is lack of interest with many tags/quota going unutilized at this time. Basically, the USFWS policies have turned $30,000 elephant hunts into <$10,000 elephant hunts, deeply reducing the value and incentives of working with wildlife for the indigenous people. Lack of financial resources results in less patrols, more poaching, and more human-animal conflict. This is bad for the wildlife in the long term. Things that are worth very little are not valued or conserved.
ConservationForce.Org is reporting that none of the USFWS permits for 2018 have been reviewed on a "case by case" basis as defined here has occurred whatsoever: https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...hies-taken-on-or-after-january-21-2016-and-on
They did report that Tanzania Lion permits, quantity 30, that had not been reviewed by USFWS since 2016 are flowing out now. Laughably, they are sending permits that are no longer valid (12 month window) so the permits are literally not worth the paper they are printed on.
Anyway, back to USFWS elephants permits for Zimbabwe: At the end of the Federal register statement above, the USFWS also state " In addition, the Service will reevaluate the status of African elephants in Zimbabwe before the end of 2018 and make a new finding in the beginning of 2019 for, at least, the 2019 hunting season."
As those of you with calendars may be aware, their promise has come and gone unanswered.
Steps that many are taking:
ConservationForce.org will represent individuals that wish to have them process their permits. They are also contemplating legal action to compel USFWS to adhere to the law and rules they have stated in the Federal register.
Possible scenarios:
1.) Trump wins a reelection, then releases permits.
2.) USFWS loses the lawsuit, permits are released.
3.) USFWS issues ruling banning permit issuance for 2019 onward.
4.) USFWS reviews all 2018 permits as described, on a "Case by case" basis and rejects them all.
5.) Future permits are all ended, those that got their application in queue get approved as the last of their kind.
6.) USFWS falls madly in love with the compelling science, approves all permits in due course, and importation in the future from Zimbabwe resumes completely unfettered. (This scenario is the least likely of all 6)
As a consequence of the USFWS delayed action and ambiguity, elephant hunting prices in Zimbabwe are at an all time low. Even though exportable, the restrictions on importation to the US and elsewhere have reduced trophy elephant hunts to the price of non-trophy cow hunts. Even then, reports indicate that there is lack of interest with many tags/quota going unutilized at this time. Basically, the USFWS policies have turned $30,000 elephant hunts into <$10,000 elephant hunts, deeply reducing the value and incentives of working with wildlife for the indigenous people. Lack of financial resources results in less patrols, more poaching, and more human-animal conflict. This is bad for the wildlife in the long term. Things that are worth very little are not valued or conserved.
