Anyone have the skinny on how to get one under the new system? My understanding is it's on a case by case basis now.

Why is it on a case by case?

So someone has the option of saying no??

If you have hunted a lion, in a country that has CITES permit for it, and have a CITES permit issued from there, there should be no other option but to issue an import permit.

My impression is that USF&W is no longer doing it on a country by country basis, which is good, since they previously weren't allowing any import permits regardless of country.

The USFW, like most European countries departments dealing with this, are bending backwards to accommodate the stupid, brainless, so called “animal lovers”!

Non of them have enough balls to tell them to take a hike!

David,
Things that help get one:

1) Try to hunt an area with an outfitter who has a “known” track record of area enhancement conservation.
2) When filling out the application form, in appropriate areas, highlight the above record as much as possible within reason but be prepared to back what you say with facts.

I called John Jackson and he forwarded my permit the same day.

That is an excellent idea. John knows just what to add. He does all my ele permits and while none have been granted since the suspension...the numbers give him strength.

Lavaca,

Yes! John Jackson is who to contact. He has assisted with all the lion permits for the du Plooys/Muchinga Adventures in Zambia and all has gone smoothly. Your safari operator will have some hoops to jump through but it can be done.

Mark

Thanks all. Can someone PM me John's contact information? Thanks.

cf@conservationforce.org

Contact number for John Jackson. 504-837-1233

If you are interested in obtaining a lion permit import application please email CF@conservationforce.org or call our office at 504-837-1233 we will be glad to help you with the process from start to finish and more. We are the experts at proving both enhancement under the ESA ( DSA of FWS) and non-detriment under CITES (DMA of FWS). The FWS has a different office and staff for each. For lion import permits only an enhancement finding is necessary which is made by the Division of Management Authority, DMA. The lion is only on Appendix II of CITES no CITES import permit is necessary. The approval of lion import permits is essential for the survival of lion so we view the assistance as an indispensable conservation service. We established the import of elephant the first time in the early 90s and many listed game species since including “endangered” listed black rhino, wood bison and straight-horned markhor, et al if you can imagine!

Please allow me to explain some of the facts and law to reduce the confusion.

First, “case by case” permitting means one permit at a time as they are received instead of pre-deciding prospective permits countrywide for all permits one to three years in advance. I suggested it to the FWS myself when FWS felt it had to set aside 18 different enhancement determinations because a federal appeals court held that perspective, country-wide determinations required full rulemakings ( a formal publication of the proposed determination, a minimum public comment period, and republication of the final determination and analysis including refutation of all substantive challenges, then a period of deadly to allow for suit, etc.). The initial positive lion enhancement findings for RSA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe that FWS’s DMA had made largely in response to Conservation Force’s “test” permit applications were among the 18 positive enhancement determinations set aside to comply with the court ruling. We have had to prove enhancement in those countries a second time. Now the permit findings are 20-25 pages long for each permit instead of that for all permits for several years into the future. The old procedure of making a countrywide determination several years in the future without a full published rulemaking procedure was much faster, easier, less expensive, better, but is no longer considered legal. The case by case procedure is more work and time but somebody has to do it. It is now more work and time, by no means easier or quicker, but the only alternative procedure is doing a full rulemaking that can take a year or more with the double publications, analysis os all the comments, extensive formal documents, etc. the FWS can no longer make a prospective, country-wide enhancement finding without following the full rulemaking procedure so it is doing each individual permit on a case by case or permit by permit basis-one permit at a time, after receipt/filing.

One further point. When the court ruled that perspective, country-wide enhancement determinations were not legal unless a full rulemaking procedure had been followed, Conservation had not yet established the import of lion from all countries. Import permits based upon proof of enhancement are required by a special rule created when the lion was listed as threatened.” We are still very much pioneering what is “enhancement” country by country as well as permitted by permit. It is more work, expense and time than before, but not as much as procedurally doing a full rulemaking.

Finally, the legality of substituting the case by case ( one permit at a time adjudication) instead of doing a full, formal rulemaking was challenged in two suits by the anti-hunters who want a full rulemaking because it would greatly delay issuance of permits, and give them direct participation and intervention in the enhancement approval process. Both cases were dismissed just weeks ago. The case by case procedure is legal and that by itself should step up the process.

The three year in advance, country-wide enhancement determination practice that is now illegal unless a full rulemaking procedure is followed was the best, fastest, and cheapest but was not legal. Hope this helps.

JOhn J. Jackson III, President of Conservation Force.

Thanks to everyone. John, you'll hear from me soon. I'm booked for 2020 in an area I've hunted before more than once. More lion there than anyplace I've hunted, with possible exception of the Tarangire border in March, which is no longer an option. Outfitter is very involved in anti-poaching and conservation initiatives. Has really turned this area around. First time I hunted there (his first year getting the area) we saw signs of active poaching, illegal camps, etc. Had 50 troops/game scouts in camp running anti-poaching operations. Now, there is no poaching in that area and the elephant are coming back.