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Conservation Force to Appeal Elephant Import Permit Denials For All Hunters

(posted March 02, 2017)

We have just learned from Conservation Force that the USFWS has denied several applications for import permits for elephant trophies hunted in Zimbabwe in 2015 following the suspension of elephant imports from that country. These applications were submitted under the new permitting regulations introduced in July 2016, which requires USFWS import permits for all elephant trophies under the Endangered Species Act (see Article 3815).

Continuing readers will recall that the FWS first suspended elephant imports from Zimbabwe in 2014 after issuing a finding that it could not determine that sport hunting of elephant there enhanced the survival of wild elephants. The permits in question were denied pursuant to a March 26, 2015 finding made by the FWS on Zimbabwe elephant, which upheld the earlier suspension. The FWS has not readressed this finding since March 2015, even though Conservation Force, ZimParks, CAMPFIRE Association, ZPHGA, and others have provided them with substantial new information to make a positive finding.

The new permit requirement provided an avenue for administrative relief from continuing suspension of Zimbabwe elephant trophy imports, because it gave those who took elephant during the suspension an opportunity to provide additional enhancement information and to have the USFWS reconsider its findings on Zimbabwe's elephant program in light of new information. It is unclear, however, whether the FWS took new information into account in its decisions on these permits.

Following the denial of the permit applications, Conservation Force now plans to file Requests for Reconsideration within 45 days of the denial. Conservation Force is already involved with several hunters, but they are requesting contact from any other hunters who have had permits denied by March 31, 2017. Email Conservation Force at cf@conservationforce.org or call 504-837-1233.

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