James.Grage
AH legend
USFWS Delays Approval of Countries for African Lion Imports
(posted January 18, 2016)
Last week, during a CITES meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) was expected to announce the early approval of one or more African nations that meet the "enhancement test" for issuance of lion import permits. We had promised an update once the announcement was made, but, unfortunately, FWS was not prepared to make such determinations. Instead, it is preparing to send a list of questions to each of the Eastern and Southern African range states regarding their lion hunting and conservation programs. The list of states passing the "enhancement test" will not be released before the Safari Club International Convention takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, next month.
"Conservation Force has hired a special contractor to assist the countries with interpretation of the FWS inquiries when they are sent out, but that will take time," says John Jackson, III of Conservation Force. "We are almost certain that most countries with lion hunting will not be able to import lion trophies to the US in 2016. Nevertheless we will spare no effort to assist them in providing FWS with the required information."
Hunting Report subscribers poured through our booth at the Dallas Safari Club Convention earlier this month looking for any information that would help them decide whether to book a lion hunt this convention season in light of the recent listing of that species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and the Service's new import permit requirement for African lion trophies.
As soon as the Service makes an announcement, we will issue another news bulletin. US hunters with booked lion hunts or considering a lion hunt, should discuss options with their safari operator should the trophy import be denied by FWS. - Barbara Crown, Editor-in-Chief
(posted January 18, 2016)
Last week, during a CITES meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) was expected to announce the early approval of one or more African nations that meet the "enhancement test" for issuance of lion import permits. We had promised an update once the announcement was made, but, unfortunately, FWS was not prepared to make such determinations. Instead, it is preparing to send a list of questions to each of the Eastern and Southern African range states regarding their lion hunting and conservation programs. The list of states passing the "enhancement test" will not be released before the Safari Club International Convention takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, next month.
"Conservation Force has hired a special contractor to assist the countries with interpretation of the FWS inquiries when they are sent out, but that will take time," says John Jackson, III of Conservation Force. "We are almost certain that most countries with lion hunting will not be able to import lion trophies to the US in 2016. Nevertheless we will spare no effort to assist them in providing FWS with the required information."
Hunting Report subscribers poured through our booth at the Dallas Safari Club Convention earlier this month looking for any information that would help them decide whether to book a lion hunt this convention season in light of the recent listing of that species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and the Service's new import permit requirement for African lion trophies.
As soon as the Service makes an announcement, we will issue another news bulletin. US hunters with booked lion hunts or considering a lion hunt, should discuss options with their safari operator should the trophy import be denied by FWS. - Barbara Crown, Editor-in-Chief
And for this we pay them(F&W SERVICE.)JOHN
