https://blog.humanesociety.org...lled-in-namibia.html



An American trophy hunter wants to bring home an endangered cheetah he killed in Namibia

May 15, 2019

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson



The cheetah, an animal capable of top speeds of 75 miles per hour, is racing toward extinction, with just 7,100 animals left in the wild. Recently, in another expression of the callous disregard trophy hunters show for the world’s most endangered and at-risk animals, an American who killed a cheetah in Namibia has applied to import trophy parts from his kill into the United States.

If approved, it would be the first time on record that the U.S. government would have authorized the import of a cheetah trophy under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). This could set a terrible precedent and very possibly encourage more trophy hunters to go after cheetahs, exacerbating their tragic fate.

We recently learned that another American has also applied to import the trophy of a black rhino, also killed in Namibia. There are now just 5,500 black rhinos remaining in the wild.

It defies understanding that our government would even allow trophy hunters to apply for permits to import animals fast disappearing from earth and protected under the ESA. Both black rhinos and cheetahs are listed as endangered under ESA and can only be imported if the FWS finds that hunting the animal would enhance the survival of the species. A trophy hunter killing an animal for thrills and bragging rights clearly does not meet that standard.

Sadly, in recent years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, instead of doing its job of protecting animals listed under the ESA, has enabled an escalation of attacks against them. Beginning in 2017, the FWS reversed more enlightened policies, making it easier for American trophy hunters to import trophies of endangered and threatened animals. The agency also established the International Wildlife Conservation Council, a body stocked with trophy hunters and firearms dealers, tasked to advise on federal wildlife policy decisions – a decision we’ve challenged in court. And last year, the FWS proposed changes to weaken the ESA, which is the bedrock law that protects endangered and threatened animal species and their habitats. Those harmful changes could be finalized any day now.

Late last year, despite our objections, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service granted an import permit to an American hunter who paid $400,000 to kill a 35-year-old male black rhino in Namibia in 2017.

Scientists warn that at the rate black rhinos and cheetahs are disappearing, they could be lost forever. Like rhinos, cheetahs face a number of threats, including massive habitat loss and degradation. These distinctive, spotted animals, known as the fastest land mammals, have already lost 91% of their historic range and 77% of their remaining habitat is not in protected areas, leaving them open to attack. Cheetahs also become victims of retaliation killings by humans due to conflict with livestock and game farmers, and trafficking of live cheetahs for the illegal pet trade. The last thing they need is to be shot for fun by a trophy hunter.

For trophy hunters, the rarer the animal, the more valuable the trophy is, and the greater the prestige and thrill of killing it. But most Americans know better and oppose trophy hunting, as we’ve seen from the backlash against trophy hunters that usually follows when they post their conquests on social media. With so few cheetahs and black rhinos left in the world, every animal counts. Please join us and urge the FWS to do the right thing by rejecting these two applications.

Sara Amundson is president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund.

https://www.regulations.gov/do...HQ-IA-2019-0042-0001


USFWS link to comment on request to import rhino and cheetah.

There we go again!

Two stupid idiots claiming to be journalists trying to make a name for themselves!

One hunter shoots an animal, and they start screaming!

Non stop poaching, and these brainless idiots never utter a word.

Anyone wants to bet that these two are vegetable brained??

Vegetarians have always co existed with us normal human beings in the past.

Now they have started calling themselves "activists", which is another word for terrorists.

I shared a campfire two nights ago with a local farmer outside of Outjo. So far this year he's shot 9 lion, 5 leopard, and 14 Cheetah. He's just one of more than 40 farmers in the area who are constantly culling cats to protect their livestock and their livelihood. Of course to many, animals are more important than human survival.

Meanwhile in the Conservancies, hundreds of lion, leopard, and cheetah are poisoned, trapped and/or shot each year and yet the numbers of predator species in the Kunene region continue to explode. We've had an estimated 8% increase in the numbers of lion alone. Cats have a funny way of breeding more cats.

So anyone wetting their pants over one hunter taking one "endangered" cheetah is beyond laughable. Maybe these "reporters" should spend more time in the field actually learning the facts and less time on their computers writing hysterical fantasies.

BTW, anyone who is interested in non-exportable, legal cat hunting, the opportunities here are endless.

Same in Botswana. Govt pretty much shut down leopard hunting ... but farmers kill hundreds each year.

The tree huggers act like populations are static and the individual animals immortal. "There are only 5123 left, and this guy goes and shoots one so we are down to 5122". Fact is, the population would INCREASE if there were a financial incentive to allow that to happen.

.. and let me come out and add this: Sara Amundson is either a lying rabble-rouser or an a person of very low intelligence. Go on, sue me Sara.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
Same in Botswana. Govt pretty much shut down leopard hunting ... but farmers kill hundreds each year.

The tree huggers act like populations are static and the individual animals immortal. "There are only 5123 left, and this guy goes and shoots one so we are down to 5122". Fact is, the population would INCREASE if there were a financial incentive to allow that to happen.

I’ve been saying this for a long time...people have the misguided notion that if a hunter doesn’t kill an animal, that animal will live forever. They are concerned about individual animals, NOT the overall health of the entire species. Another mistake they often make is considering the entire species as part of a single population instead of the distributed populations that actually exist. The idea that one area can hold too many animals while another can be deficient is completely lost on them. And, as the article shows, it’s not important for them to undrstand that; they get far more traction/sympathy by referring to the species as a unit than the complexities of regional animal management. That doesn’t help the animals.

To amplify on the comment by Opus-My first trip to Namibia was in 2000. We have hunted there several times over the years. In 2000 did see Cheetah sign. In the years since it has become very common. One of our hosts over the years attributes this increase directly to the hunting/game farm industry. It makes sense that in a "natural" environment the prey species would be more available with generally less consequences than preying on domestic livestock.This gentleman also tenders the same argument for wild dogs which are becoming quite common once again. Which begs the question on how these "authors" fabricate at this level. God help us all if the non hunting public is so uninformed as to accept this nonsense.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
.. and let me come out and add this: Sara Amundson is either a lying rabble-rouser or an a person of very low intelligence. Go on, sue me Sara.

Like every stupid idiot masquerading as journalist today, she is brainless.

But, this gets them attention.

Everyone knows that the HSUS is purely an anti-hunting group with no real interest in humane animal treatment.

quote:

Originally posted by crane:
Which begs the question on how these "authors" fabricate at this level. God help us all if the non hunting public is so uninformed as to accept this nonsense.

The average person is unwittingly wearing rose colored glasses. They take a person at their word and don't think about the person's real intentions. It's unfortunate but when it comes to animals the affect gets compounded.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
.. and let me come out and add this: Sara Amundson is either a lying rabble-rouser or an a person of very low intelligence. Go on, sue me Sara.

Like every stupid idiot masquerading as journalist today, she is brainless.

But, this gets them attention.

More importantly, it gets them DONATIONS!

quote:

Originally posted by eyeman:
Everyone knows that the HSUS is purely an anti-hunting group with no real interest in humane animal treatment.

No, unfortunately everyone doesn’t know. In fact their PR machine has the uneducated masses convinced of the opposite.

I took a cheetah in Namibia in 1990. Living in Canada it was no issue. We just followed the CITIES protocol. The issue is the U S government is your own worst enemy. They just cant resist minding every bodies business. CITIES is adequate at protecting wildlife

Had to check and make sure it wasn't me (via Conservation Force). LOL! It wasn't but now I am tempted to go forward with it to back this guy up.