Conservation News Briefs
Another View of CITES COP12: The Spring issue of Earth Island Journal is an eye-opener. In an article entitled "Victory in Santiago! Endangered species win big at CITES," "investigative environmental journalist" Craig Van Note tells it all. The article might also be entitled, "Whatever happened to Susan?" That is, Susan Lieberman who headed the Humane Society of the United States’(HSUS’s) CITES efforts, then became the Director of the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Division of Scientific Authority and was last heard to be employed by the World Wide Fund for Nature in London.
The Earth Island Journal is the publication of the Earth Island Institute, which filed the current Argali suit, along with the Fund for Animals and HSUS. It has long supported the listing of all Argali sheep as endangered and opposed the importation of Argali hunting trophies. Those of us who spend months of time every year trying to keep CITES on track monitor such publications.
The article states that: "The remarkable victories in wildlife conservation were largely the result of years of hard work - and intense lobbying at the (12th CITES Conference of the Parties) meeting – by a potent global coalition of environmental and animal welfare groups, the Species Survival Network (SSN), and by new, progressive leadership by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). SSN, whose 65 member organizations from 26 countries include The Humane Society of the United States, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Greenpeace, Defenders of Wildlife, Environmental Investigation Agency, Born Free Foundation and the UK’s Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has become the leading advocate for wildlife and habitat protection in the world.…
"Perhaps most striking in the conservation arena has been the transformation of WWF International from an obstructionist organization into a progressive leader.… The dramatic change at WWF has been led by Dr. Susan Lieberman, an American biologist, who took over WWF International’s wildlife program two years ago. Using her years of experience in the environmental community and as administrator of CITES issues in the US government, she has put WWF at the front in many battles to protect wildlife from the depredations of trade.
"Scores of SSN and WWF activists from dozens of countries lobbied side-by-side at the CITES meeting to win wildlife protections and to defeat pro-exploitation proposals….."
That says it all and confirms our musing during the Conference when we witnessed the listing of mahogany, basking sharks, whale sharks and 38 seahorse species after years of failed attempts. These listings are feared by some to herald a whole new era of controls over the timber and fishing industries. Nevertheless, the recognition that WWF International and the SSN are working side-by-side for "conservation" may backfire. Is WWF International collaborating with an organization (SSN) that is too radical for it to join? Thank you Earth Island Journal for the heads-up.
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Chronic Wasting Disease Overreaction: Chronic Wasting Disease ("CWD") has been sensationalized. Really. It is a classic case of hunters overreacting. Some organizations have printed and circulated millions of information leaflets further confirming that there is so much smoke that there must be a fire.
Here at Conservation Force we have labored hundreds of hours monitoring developments and attending meetings on CWD. The ridiculousness of it all dawned on me the other day when my wife and I took an early morning hike in our suburban neighborhood for exercise. As James Audubon noticed long ago, there are birds everywhere in Louisiana this time of the year. They are numbered in the zillions, flying, fighting, fussing, and flirting. They are strung out on every fence top and every electric power line. At times, the noise level can give you a headache. They are everywhere. On top of that, every suburban nature lover (wildlife watcher) has not one, but several, bird feeders. Bird feed is big business in suburbia and the house cats could not be happier. Every organization from the National Wildlife Federation to HSUS has backyard "how-to" programs of some sort effectively homing the birds into backyards.
The trouble is these birds are KILLERS! They threaten my family and every one I know. They are vectors of the Nile virus. It is a form of encephalitis that infected 309 people and killed 24 in Louisiana alone last year!
The neighborhood seems undisturbed. No one has stopped the bird feeding, much less raved that bird feeding spreads the virus by concentrating the birds. No one is claiming that there are too many birds. No one is raising funds to kill all the birds to isolate the virus or reduce its abundance.
The Nile virus causes fatal swelling of the brain and spinal cord, or both. There is no treatment, though most people survive it. It was first detected only in 1999. Last year, it infected 4,161 people and killed 227 in the United States. It is in my backyard. When I paid attention, I observed 14 dead birds in three days! If my family and I survive all the infected birds and mosquito-born virus in my own backyard and neighborhood, I will no longer be anxious about the unlikely and unheard possibility of contracting CWD from deer or elk.
CWD is simply not a comparable threat. It does not rank at all. When you really have something to worry about, it stops you from worrying about "nothings." For more information about CWD, visit: USGS National Wildlife Health Center http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov; and http://www.cwd-info.org.
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Confinement of Wild Ungulates Within High Fences: The Wildlife Society (TWS) has issued a "Final Position Statement" on high fencing of wild hoofed mammals. The Wildlife Society is the foremost association of professional wildlife biologists and managers. This has been developing for some time. The society recognizes that high (avg. 2.4 meters) fences are used to improve the management of the contained animals and their habitat, but that there are a number of issues and controversy arising from the practice. The following is the policy TWS has finally adopted:
"The use of high fences to confine ungulates may have specific and legitimate uses in wildlife management research, but it also carries the potential for significant adverse impacts. The policy of The Wildlife Society with respect to ungulate confinement is to:
1. Oppose further conversion of the public’s native wildlife to private ownership.
2. Oppose high-fenced enclosures, regardless of size, if they exclude free-ranging native wildlife from critical seasonal habitats or migration routes.
3. Support regulations and enforcement to prevent escapes and facilitate recovery in the event of an escape.
4. Support state wildlife agencies as the primary regulatory authority over native North American ungulates, including those confined by high fences. State wildlife agencies should work cooperatively with other state and federal agricultural, wildlife and health agencies, as well as hunting groups, conservation organizations, private landowners and managers to prevent problems such as disease transmission and genetic exchange among native wildlife and exotic species.
5. Encourage anyone using a high fence to confine ungulates to thoroughly analyze and understand potential effects and commit to minimizing risks to native species. This requires a well coordinated effort of state and federal agencies, hunting groups, conservation organizations, private landowners and managers.
6. For all ungulates confined by high fences, encourage management at or below natural carrying capacity in a manner that prevents inbreeding, diseases, habitat degradation and effects on non-target species.
7. Encourage authorized agencies to collaborate with interested parties on funding and development of systems for detecting and monitoring wildlife diseases within enclosed and free-ranging native and exotic ungulate populations.
8. Support a moratorium on the construction of high-fenced facilities and any shipment of live cervids until live animal diagnostic tests are available for detecting and monitoring important infectious diseases.
9. Oppose the use of funds generated from traditional sources (recreational licenses, tags and other fees) for confined-ungulate inspections and regulatory programs…."
We just wish TWS had emphasized that the purpose of containment is to protect the hoofed animals and the investment in them.
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Conservation Forum: Director Steve Williams convened the USF&WS’s first Conservation Forum. It was held at the USF&WS’s National Conservation Training Center in late February. Thirty-four conservation groups whose missions occupy the mainstream of the sporting world interests, including Conservation Force, joined together for the meeting. The purpose was to partner with and mobilize the capabilities of the traditional hunting and fishing conservation groups on projects of mutual interest. Director Williams said it was to "discuss opportunities to form new partnerships and to reaffirm others."
The five main topics were hunter and angler access and participation; habitat and land management; science in resource management; communication and cooperation and policy and conservation leadership. The action plans are still being drafted but promise to revitalize cooperation between the service and America’s traditional conservation organizations.
The forum focused solely on domestic issues, not the international arena. The gap between sportsmen and the service on international matters has yet to be addressed. We are waiting. Frequently, test permits are treated as a "low priority," or not processed at all. At best, there is a lethargy or indifference toward range nations’ programs and toward issuance of permits for new game species or destinations. At worse, there are ex-employees out there, such as Ron Nowak in the Argali Suit with a history of trying to list all Argali, all elephant and other species. It is time for a change of protocol and for a greater collaborative effort in support of foreign programs that should be encouraged. There are still diplomatic protests by range nations from years back that remain unaddressed.
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Black Bear Management In North America: We have discovered another great source of black bear status information. The Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch of the Manitoba Conservation Agency is amassing the material. It is creating a perpetually updated web site for it. Hank Hristienko has become one of the most knowledgeable authorities and is responsible for the development of the material by the agency.
Hank’s population estimate confirms that black bear in North America are increasing. From the late 1980’s to the early 2000’s the overall population increase has been 21 percent. During that period, the bruin have increased in number from 625,000 - 770,425; to 766,735 - 913,700. He is in the process of updating his population information and feels that the number is in the one million range now.
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Your Chance to Comment on Cormorants: Every fisherman and waterfowl hunter is familiar with the double-crested cormorant. It is a bird long protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Too protected for too long.
The USF&W has proposed a range-wide strategy to allow the management, including shooting, of double-crested cormorant birds. The proposal would allow greater state participation in the management determinations because of the need for local decision making due to the increasing cormorant population. Comments will be accepted through May 16, 2003 and should be addressed to Division of Migratory Bird Management, USF&WS, 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Mail Stop MBSP-4107, Arlington, Virginia 22203; or E-mailed to comorants@fws.gov; or faxed to 703-358-2272. The proposal can be viewed at 68 FR 12653, March 17, 2003; or call Conservation Force for a copy.
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North America’s Hunting Heritage - The Governor’s Symposia: The dates for this important symposium have been set for December 3 - 6, 2003 in Houston, Texas. The goals are to celebrate the history of hunters as conservationists, communicate the richness of this heritage to hunters and non-hunters alike, respond to concerns about hunting, examine current issues, foster new ideas about the future of hunting and create an atmosphere of cooperation among the hunting community.
There are three specific objectives: 1) Improve the public image of hunting; 2) Increase cooperation and networking among the hunting community; and 3) Support science-based wildlife management by strengthening the relationship between professionals and the hunting constituency.
No active hunting advocate can afford to miss it. Even knowing what does not work is good information. We will be there. For additional information visit the web site http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/hunt/heritage. – John J. Jackson, III.
A Special Tribute To Gunbearers
I told you about the tremendous fund-raiser held for the Cullman & Hurt Community Wildlife Project in the Ackley Room of the American Museum of Natural History in an earlier bulletin. What I didn’t tell you was, two volumes of Hunting The Big Five by Robin Hurt were sold at silent auction during that event, with the funds earmarked for a very special purpose – namely gunbearers. Each volume sold for $6,000. One was bought by Ron Mannix of Canada, and the other by Carol Rathjen of Texas. All proceeds were earmarked for truly "unsung heroes." The following letter was nicely framed for display next to the books that were sold. It is now on the wall in the Conservation Force library, where it is to be treasured.
The Safari World of Robin Hurt Ltd
THE GUNBEARERS
THE UNSUNG HEROES OF AFRICAN SAFARIS
This season will have been my 40th consecutive year as a Professional Hunter in Africa. This amounts to some 10,000 safari days hunting dangerous animals with my clients. This time in the bush was challenging, sometimes dangerous and always exciting. Without the noble companionship and support of my African trackers, this extended time in Africa’s wilderness would not have been the same experience.
The Gunbearers are like a Sergeant Major in the Army, supporting a Commissioned Officer. The gunbearer is the backbone of the safari. On his shoulders rests the responsibility for spotting game and fresh tracks and following up and tracking wounded dangerous game. Most of all, for just simply being there when the Professional Hunter needs sound advice! It has been my privilege to know many of these outstanding men, from various African tribes. In particular, the ones who come to mind and who were close and loyal companions and friends include:
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Labosso arap Sura |
Nandi tribe |
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Tinea Paramois ole Kerito |
Masai tribe (Ndorobo) |
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Joseph Sitiene |
Nandi tribe |
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Diwani Guyu |
Waliungulu tribe (wata) |
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Changalo Guyu |
Waliungulu tribe (wata) |
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Tallo Simba |
Turkana tribe |
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Alfayo Kabiti |
Msukuma tribe |
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Ngumbo Bashora Neko |
Waliungulu tribe (wata) |
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Abakuna Gamundi |
Waliungulu tribe (wata) |
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Mutua Nzenge |
Mkamba tribe |
Mutua was killed by Somali poachers at Mutua in Kenya; and Abakuna Gamundi suffered a similar fate when shifta bandits/poachers forced him to swallow poison, when he refused to tell them the whereabouts of elephant. These were brave men, whose love for wildlife eventually led to their death, not from the animals they loved to hunt, but from other humans bent on wildlife destruction. Changalo Guyu also died after a long illness, last year in Kenya. The others are still living, but in most cases are now too old to work, or are unable to work because of political barriers between African countries.
It is the living, unsung heroes who I wish to support with this book and to this end I have included their photographs and asked each to script an original drawing of a hunting scene as they see it. The results are impressive when you realize that most of these trackers have never had an education. Some cannot even sign their names. They have nothing to support them in their old age except for their memories of hunting the Big Five. Maybe, in a small way this book can change that.
You, the gunbearers of east Africa, I salute you as being the bravest of the brave and gentlemen of the utmost integrity. Too long have you been the unsung heroes. - Robin Hurt, Nairobi, Kenya, October 2002.
For more information on Conservation Force and/or the services available through Jackson’s alliance with The Hunting Report, write:
Conservation Force
One Lakeway Center
Suite 1045
Metairie, LA 70002.
Tel. 504-837-1233. Fax 504-837-1145.
E-mail: cf@conservationforce.org
Web: http://www.conservationforce.org/
