Can I please vote for someone else now?
Oct. 15th, 2003 01:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
litheraProposed Endangered Species Act changes.
SEATTLE - The Bush administration is pushing changes to the Endangered Species Act that critics say would allow hunters, zoos, circuses and the pet industry to kill, capture and import animals in danger of extinction in other countries.
"This takes protection of endangered animals back 30 years," said Lisa Wathne of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). "It could wipe out some species."
Currently, the Endangered Species Act states that endangered species may be imported into the United States only for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of the species.
The proposal by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) would relax the restriction, allowing import permits for endangered animals for uses such as trophy hunting, public display in circuses, or even to supply the exotic pet trade.
The USFWS claims money spent by U.S. zoos, circuses and others to import endangered animals could be used by the foreign nations to pay for conservation projects for the remaining animals and their habitats. But Wathne says that is ridiculous.
"There is no requirement for the country to show that the money is used for conservation," she said. "It seems to be something that was thrown in there to justify this outrageous proposal."
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When I start talking about the long list of reversals of legislation that the Bush administration has introduced over the last three years, it's terrifying.
-- Primatologist Jane Goodall
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USFWS says a special rule would allow the import of sport-hunted trophies when it can be shown that the range country has established a conservation program that includes regulated sport hunting as a way of enhancing the survival of the species.
In Zimbabwe, for example, a program called Campfire (Communal Areas Management Plan for Indigenous Resources) allows villagers to earn money from safari hunting, while managing the wildlife population.
Through Campfire, local communities register with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The NPWS then counts the animals and sets a limit on how many can be killed. The village then decides if they want to kill the animals for food, or if they want to sell the quota as hunting rights to safari hunters. The revenue is then put back into community development projects such as schools and clinics.
The USFWS also says zoos and circuses could be allowed to import Asian elephants, which number between 34,000 and 51,000, on the grounds that the organizations would fund conservation efforts in the animal's native land.
Wayne Pacelle, Senior Vice President of the Humane Society of the United States, says even roadside zoos could take advantage of the new regulations.
But, he said, "Hopefully reputable zoos wouldn't contribute to the removal of animals from their native habitat."
Gigi Allianic, spokeswoman for the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, said the zoo is already involved in 39 conservation projects in 42 countries. She said zoos do not typically take animals from the wild.
"We only do that as a rescue effort," she said.
Allianic said the zoo has not yet taken an official position on the proposed changes, and is waiting for The American Zoo and Aquarium Association to make recommendations.
Pacelle said the proposed plan would be a weakening of the Endangered Species Act that doesn't benefit animals, but benefits circuses, trophy hunters and exotic pet dealers.
"It's an amnesty plan for endangered species killers," said Pacelle.
Primatologist Jane Goodall on Sunday criticized the proposal and said she believes circus owners and other businesses that use animals for entertainment or research are responsible for the proposed changes.
"Obviously, they have lobbied someone in the administration to introduce this terrible bill," Goodall said.
Goodall, famed worldwide for her life's work studying and protecting chimpanzees in Tanzania, said "When I start talking about the long list of reversals of legislation that the Bush administration has introduced over the last three years, it's terrifying."
Lisa Wathne of PETA says contrary to the government's assertions, if the proposed changes are adopted, countries will see no need to establish conservation projects.
"It's going to take away any incentive for countries to protect their endangered animals," she said. "Anything these people can do to get these animals so they can make money off of them, they're going to push for."
The government is accepting public comment on the proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act through Oct. 17, 2003. Send comments to:
Chief, Division of Management Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Rm. 700
Arlington, VA 22203
703-358-2093
703-358-2280 (fax)
ManagementAuthority@fws.gov
SEATTLE - The Bush administration is pushing changes to the Endangered Species Act that critics say would allow hunters, zoos, circuses and the pet industry to kill, capture and import animals in danger of extinction in other countries.
"This takes protection of endangered animals back 30 years," said Lisa Wathne of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). "It could wipe out some species."
Currently, the Endangered Species Act states that endangered species may be imported into the United States only for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of the species.
The proposal by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) would relax the restriction, allowing import permits for endangered animals for uses such as trophy hunting, public display in circuses, or even to supply the exotic pet trade.
The USFWS claims money spent by U.S. zoos, circuses and others to import endangered animals could be used by the foreign nations to pay for conservation projects for the remaining animals and their habitats. But Wathne says that is ridiculous.
"There is no requirement for the country to show that the money is used for conservation," she said. "It seems to be something that was thrown in there to justify this outrageous proposal."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I start talking about the long list of reversals of legislation that the Bush administration has introduced over the last three years, it's terrifying.
-- Primatologist Jane Goodall
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USFWS says a special rule would allow the import of sport-hunted trophies when it can be shown that the range country has established a conservation program that includes regulated sport hunting as a way of enhancing the survival of the species.
In Zimbabwe, for example, a program called Campfire (Communal Areas Management Plan for Indigenous Resources) allows villagers to earn money from safari hunting, while managing the wildlife population.
Through Campfire, local communities register with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The NPWS then counts the animals and sets a limit on how many can be killed. The village then decides if they want to kill the animals for food, or if they want to sell the quota as hunting rights to safari hunters. The revenue is then put back into community development projects such as schools and clinics.
The USFWS also says zoos and circuses could be allowed to import Asian elephants, which number between 34,000 and 51,000, on the grounds that the organizations would fund conservation efforts in the animal's native land.
Wayne Pacelle, Senior Vice President of the Humane Society of the United States, says even roadside zoos could take advantage of the new regulations.
But, he said, "Hopefully reputable zoos wouldn't contribute to the removal of animals from their native habitat."
Gigi Allianic, spokeswoman for the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, said the zoo is already involved in 39 conservation projects in 42 countries. She said zoos do not typically take animals from the wild.
"We only do that as a rescue effort," she said.
Allianic said the zoo has not yet taken an official position on the proposed changes, and is waiting for The American Zoo and Aquarium Association to make recommendations.
Pacelle said the proposed plan would be a weakening of the Endangered Species Act that doesn't benefit animals, but benefits circuses, trophy hunters and exotic pet dealers.
"It's an amnesty plan for endangered species killers," said Pacelle.
Primatologist Jane Goodall on Sunday criticized the proposal and said she believes circus owners and other businesses that use animals for entertainment or research are responsible for the proposed changes.
"Obviously, they have lobbied someone in the administration to introduce this terrible bill," Goodall said.
Goodall, famed worldwide for her life's work studying and protecting chimpanzees in Tanzania, said "When I start talking about the long list of reversals of legislation that the Bush administration has introduced over the last three years, it's terrifying."
Lisa Wathne of PETA says contrary to the government's assertions, if the proposed changes are adopted, countries will see no need to establish conservation projects.
"It's going to take away any incentive for countries to protect their endangered animals," she said. "Anything these people can do to get these animals so they can make money off of them, they're going to push for."
The government is accepting public comment on the proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act through Oct. 17, 2003. Send comments to:
Chief, Division of Management Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Rm. 700
Arlington, VA 22203
703-358-2093
703-358-2280 (fax)
ManagementAuthority@fws.gov
