MILWAUKEE (AP) — The U.S. is allowing a hunter to bring a slain African rhinoceros back to Wisconsin, the first time American officials have allowed a black rhinoceros hunting trophy to be imported since the animal was listed as endangered in 1980.

David K. Reinke, 52, of Madison, killed the rhino in 2009 with the blessing of the Namibian government. He argued that the killing was an act of "conservation hunting" because he was culling an elderly rhino that was unable to reproduce but could still aggressively crowd out fertile rivals. But the decision angers wildlife supporters, who worry the decision sets a dangerous precedent encouraging trophy hunters to kill endangered animals.

"My desire is to help save the rhino through a scientific method approved by the United States and other agencies," Reinke said. "It's all about conservation."

The U.S. government has listed the black rhinoceros as endangered, making it illegal to import the animal — dead or alive — except for scientific purposes or if doing so enhances the species' survival. Other species of rhino, including the northern white rhinoceros, are protected as well.

The Fish and Wildlife Service said last month it granted Reinke's permit "in recognition of the role that well-managed, limited sport hunting plays" in the recovery of the black rhino in Namibia. The country allows five male black rhinos that are too old to reproduce to be shot each year, the service said.

The rhino that Reinke shot was 34 years old. The Fish and Wildlife Service says the rhino typically lives 30 to 35 years, grows to about 10 to 12 feet long and weighs between 1,800 and 3,000 pounds.

"The removal of limited numbers of males has been shown to contribute to overall population growth in some areas by reducing fighting injuries and deaths among males, decreasing juvenile mortality and shortening calving intervals," the service said in a statement.

All black rhinos in Namibia are marked on their ears so officials can identify them and select which ones are appropriate for hunting. Reinke's target was Rhino bull No. 27, which Namibian officials had monitored since it was brought to Waterberg Plateau National Park in 1981.

The Fish and Wildlife Service also noted that Reinke contributed $175,000 into Namibia's Game Products Trust Fund, which helps support conservation efforts.

Wayne Pacelle, the president of The Humane Society of the United States, called Reinke's arguments self-serving. He said big-game hunters have a sort of fraternity in which wealthy individuals try to distinguish themselves by killing rare and endangered species, even if they justify the shootings as advancing the causes of preservation.

"There are lots of people who give more than $200,000 a year to help animals, but no one says, 'I'll give you the money if you let me shoot one,'" Pacelle said. "I think we should disassociate the notion of giving money to help the rhino, from the act of killing them."

Black rhinos are categorized as a critically endangered species, with about 5,000 animals remaining. White rhinos are considered endangered, and officials estimate about 20,000 are still alive.

Reinke said he was making sure the black rhino was being entirely used. He said he left the meat for local church groups and community leaders, and the skin, skull and horn were coming back to the U.S. to be mounted.

He said he planned to enjoy the specimen for several years before eventually donating it to a museum so future generations could appreciate it. The Endangered Species Act would bar him from legally selling the rhino.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has an application pending from another hunter who hopes to shoot a black rhinoceros in South Africa this year. The service said it has not yet determined whether that situation would qualify for a permit under the Endangered Species Act.

"There are lots of people who give more than $200,000 a year to help animals." Bullsh*t. If that were so, there would be no need for rhino hunting because the anti-poaching patrols wouldn't need hunters' dollars to pay for them. But there are very few-- if any-- donors to USHS and their nutty ilk who cough up that kind of money so it falls to hunters to do it.

USFWS finally made a good call on something!

Damn.........who'd a thunk it.


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quote:

Originally posted by sdirks:
"There are lots of people who give more than $200,000 a year to help animals." Bullsh*t. If that were so, there would be no need for rhino hunting because the anti-poaching patrols wouldn't need hunters' dollars to pay for them. But there are very few-- if any-- donors to USHS and their nutty ilk who cough up that kind of money so it falls to hunters to do it.

my first thought as well.

quote:

The Fish and Wildlife Service also noted that Reinke contributed $175,000 into Namibia's Game Products Trust Fund, which helps support conservation efforts.

Wayne Pacelle, the president of The Humane Society of the United States, called Reinke's arguments self-serving.... He said, "I think we should disassociate the notion of giving money to help the rhino, from the act of killing them."

Regardless of what Pacelle might "think", hunters' dollars do a lot more to help the rhino and other species of animals than money sent to HSUS (much of which ends up in his pocket). Talk about, "self-serving!"

I wonder what part lobbying by groups like SCI played in this? I'm not striking-up the band for SCI - just genuinely curious if lobbying efforts have played any real role or if this decision was US govt alone. It's difficult to imagine any common sense being found there....

Matt,

John Jackson from Conservation Force has been working on this for the past 20 years or so. A full report can be read in Conservation Force's Bulletin which goes out with the Hunting Report (May's edition). This is fantastic news to come out of USFWS.

I really do not know why it is such a big issue, that a Black Rhino was hunted. As far as I know this should be 1 of the 5 Black Rhinos for which Cites issued permits. The reason why RSA and Namibia applied for the permits/licences is that the old bulls become infertile and they kill the younger bulls that wants to mate with the cows. The young bulls do not stand a chance against the old bulls that is very strong and they know how to fight.

Does it serve conservation to let the old bull kill the young ones. No it does not.

To remove the old bull out of the area and let it die a natural death, which is usually a slow painful death due to starvation, will also not serve conservation.

Hunting that bull provides a lot of money that can be ploughed back in conservation.

It is a fact in Africa, if you pay you stay. If it were not for money derived from trophy hunters and eco tourism there would be no wildlife in Africa. Hunters still provide the most money per individual and they cause less disturbance of the eco system.

Well said Jaco!

http://www.huntingreport.com/c...ion_force.cfm?id=283

Black Rhino Public Education
Written By John J. Jackson III, Conservation Force Chairman & President(posted June 2013)


Conservation Force has received a great deal of “hate emails” over the black rhino import permit for Namibia. Except in the case of the most obscene instances, we have responded with a short, simple form letter. The email response has proven very effective and hopefully reflects well on the greater hunting community. It takes little to respond and you would not believe how well it is working. Most people are seriously misinformed and embarrassed that they jumped to conclusions that are not warranted. The form of the letter may be useful for others to reply in similar circumstances. The letter follows:

Thank you for caring about Namibia’s black rhino.

Believe me, you have been misinformed by people who know little or nothing and don’t contribute at all. The rhino in Namibia are recognized by all reputable experts and authorities as being the best managed in the world. The 177 Parties of CITES have established a hunting trade quota/limit of 5 per year of rhino certified to be post-reproduction males that are killing calfs and reproducing cows and younger males. Did you know that 50 percent of male rhino die of fighting wounds, not poaching? 30 percent of the females die that way. When a population reaches a certain density it is necessary to separate them, but then the old translocated bulls kill young, robust bulls, cows and calfs at the new location.

The regulated, licensed hunting is a very select reduction that saves the lives of innocent rhino and accelerates the recovery of the population. Also, the revenue is deposited in a government/public trust fund that is spent exclusively on the rhino and related management, including anti-poaching. Of course, the revenue is essential. The real experts such as CITES, the Rhino Specialist Group of the IUCN, WWF, USFWS, and - yes - Conservation Force, all care and support the permit and are fulfilling their missions. These rhino are in safe hands.

Please do help by making a tax-deductible donation and you are welcome to dedicate it to black rhino conservation, in which case we will direct it to anti-poaching for rhino. Rest easy, the token hunt is part of a tested conservation strategy and has undergone over a decade of scrutiny before implementation.

Thank you,
John J. Jackson, III

Obviously a bundler for Bam-Bam. Lets see if it becomes the rule.

Jaco and Kathy

Well said, very informative.

Interesting that "greenies" only see
the "Black Rhino hunted" side of things.

quote:

Does it serve conservation to let the old bull kill the young ones. No it does not.

To remove the old bull out of the area and let it die a natural death, which is usually a slow painful death due to starvation, will also not serve conservation.

Hunting that bull provides a lot of money that can be ploughed back in conservation.

I appreciate nature for what it is in its raw unadulterated state.
for millions of yrs, very old Rhino as with other animals species,
have occasion to died a slow painful death simply due to the course of nature.
at the other extreme...
Cape Buffalo will group AND target a Lionesses recently born young cubs...that too is the [brutal?]ancient course of nature.
Natures mechanism is completely impartial i.e.; it holds no moral values one way or the other.

Extinction of a species is not exactly an unatural process,
without interference by man extinction usually will take quite some time through the long course of nature.
Where modern man has been involved, extinction of a species can often be rather rapid.

quote:

Did you know that 50 percent of male rhino die of fighting wounds, not poaching? 30 percent of the females die that way.
When a population reaches a certain density it is necessary to separate them, but then the old translocated bulls kill young,
robust bulls, cows and calfs at the new location.

All those deaths of Rhino caused by Rhino themselves..interesting to know that.
Its seems that humans are the ones that have an issue with that natural attrition/fatality rate for Rhino,
not the Rhino themselves...for the Rhino I would say its business & behaviour as usual.

Wayne Pacelle can " Breed himself" excuse my French ladies & gentlemen
Such a self serving individual, that has absolutely no clue. Extremely naïve and gullible as far I'm concerned.
Kudos to Namib conservation effort.
Kudos to all of us hunters and shame on all the antis.

quote:

"There are lots of people who give more than $200,000 a year to help animals, but no one says, 'I'll give you the money if you let me shoot one,'"

Really? Let's test that theory. Would they be willing to say, "I'll give you money to NOT shoot one?" The next Black Rhino that comes up, we will have an auction... greenies vs. hunters. If the hunter wins, the animal is hunted and shot, if the greenies win, the animal will be pastured separately and fed until its natural death with any and all surplus money going into habitat extension and improvement for more rhino in the future. The bidding will start at $175,000. Good luck!