Is this just wishful thing on the part of SCIF and co???

News Flash

Historic Elephant Announcement by Zambian Government at 2011 Safari Club International Convention
Washington, DC – Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will allow the importation of 20 elephant hunting trophies annually from Zambia starting this 2011 hunting season. This historic announcement was made at the 2011 SCI Annual Hunters’ Convention in Reno, Nevada.
"After years of collaboration, the FWS has made the determination that sustainable hunting of elephants will contribute to the enhancement of the survival of elephants in Zambia," said SCI Foundation President Joseph Hosmer. "As a form of sustainable-use, hunting is a key component of wildlife conservation and management worldwide. The SCI Foundation is very proud to be part of the announcement."
A formal exchange between the FWS and the Zambian government was made on Thursday, Jan. 27 in conjunction with the SCI Foundation Department of Science-based Conservation and Research. The finding of enhancement by the FWS is a conclusion reached after many years of information sharing, including government to government meetings facilitated at the SCI Convention and the African Wildlife Consultative Forum (AWCF).
Underwritten by the SCI Foundation, the AWCF convenes African governments, world renowned wildlife biologists, professional hunter associations and leading conservation NGOs to share information and discuss current wildlife management issues.
Contact: Nelson Freeman; media@safariclub.org

Matt,

The Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has distributed 20 elephant to a number pf operators which are now deemed exportable to USA. It remains to be seen if this quota will be increased.

Big Game animal quotas are still be juggled as we speak and the final numbers have yet to be announced.

Zambia has good elephant but only in select areas of the country. Currently the best ivory comes out of Lower Zambezi from the Chiawa concession, although there is some very big boys wondering around the Kafue.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Matt,

The Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has distributed 20 elephant to a number pf operators which are now deemed exportable to USA. It remains to be seen if this quota will be increased.

Big Game animal quotas are still be juggled as we speak and the final numbers have yet to be announced.

Zambia has good elephant but only in select areas of the country. Currently the best ivory comes out of Lower Zambezi from the Chiawa concession, although there is some very big boys wondering around the Kafue.

Thanks mate.

Is there likely to be any CITES issues though???

This is a pretty big deal for Zambia eh??

Well done to SCI!!

Cheers and thanks
Matt

CITIES - No issues here. They endorsed the export of 20 sets of tusks per annum some years back.

Agreed it is a big deal and proves that Africa can protect, utilize and profit from it's natural resources.

Matt,

The Zambian elephant is on CITES Appendix I but can be trophy hunted with a CITES permit. This has been the case since 2005. Hunters from the USA could not import the trophy hunted ivory because of the USA Endangered Species Act.

Not to steal SCI's thunder but John Jackson of Conservation force was instrumental in drafting the elephant down-listing proposal for the Zambian and Tanzanian authorities for the last CITES meeting. We (Osprey Filming and Hunter Proud) produced an accompanying DVD for them which was sent out to all of the CITES delegates before the CITES meeting. This can be viewed here http://www.safarinewsreel.com/blog/?p=660

Please see the actual letter from the US Fish and Wildlife Service that was sent to the Director General of the Zambian Wildlife Authority below. Note that the permits are only for the 2011 season and must be applied for, they are not retroactive.



21 January 2011.

Director General
Zambia Wildlife Authority


Dear Director General,

Although it has taken more time that either of us wanted, I am pleased to inform you that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, has determined that we can authorize the importation of sport-hunted elephant trophies from Zambia taken during the 2011 hunting season. Through the numerous discussions and exchange of information that have taken place since Zambia opened up elephant hunting in 2005, I am very happy to be able to state that we feel that the requirements established under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, a stricter domestic measure, have been met.

As you are aware, the Endangered Species Act establishes specific criteria that must be met in order for my office to issue permits. The Act requires that we determine that an otherwise prohibited activity, in this case, importation of an African elephant trophy, must be shown to enhance the propagation or survival of a species. Since the African elephant is threatened under the Act, my office must be able to demonstrate that ZAWA is adequately managing Zambia's elephant populations and that the management plan under which sport hunting is occurring provides a demonstrable benefit to the species. From the information your Authority has been able to provide my office over the years and the material that was presented at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Qatar, it is clear that Zambia has developed a very strong management program.

The one issue I would like to raise is the use of funds generated from elephant hunting. While we are willing to issue import permits for elephants taken during 2011, before my office could consider authorizing importation for subsequent years, we would need to receive information on how ZAWA and the communities that receive elephant hunting revenue are using the funds. While the information that you provided previously shows the percentage that was going to ZAWA, local communities, and so forth, it did not include a more detailed accounting. In particular, it would greatly bolster our finding that sport hunting in Zambia is benefiting elephant conservation if we were provided a list of specific project or activities that have been carried out due to the availability of elephant hunting funds. We are not looking for a dollar-by-dollar accounting. Instead, we are looking for a list of activities or projects. By having this information, I feel confident that we can continue allowing trophies into the United States under the Endangered Species Act.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter. I look forward to further discussions with ZAWA and a continuation of our working relations. We will look forward to receiving applications from U.S. hunters to import their Zambian elephants. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Tim Van Norman, Chief
Branch of Permits
Division of Management Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

ZIG,
excellent film!!!! absolutely excellent

Those are going to be some expensive elephant...

Thanks Zig and everyone!!

Heartening to see the USFW relishing their job as 'World Animal Cops' (rolls eyes).

So do the permits have to be applied for before the hunt takes place??

Cheers
Matt

SilentT,

Actually if you consider how many years elephant has been closed in Zambia and the possibility of shooting a big boy they are not priced outrageous at all at $42,000 all in. This is far less expensive than Botwana or Tanzania.

If I were going to hunt ele in Zambia I'd definitely find a PH that hunted them when they were on quota. The younger guys have no ele experience. My small experience on the Luangwa hunting with a PH who hunted elephant there in the past indicated that a 40# looks pretty good there and an inexpereinced PH could recommend shooting an ele that was not up to the potential of the area.

Mark

ddrhook,

Thank you for the compliment.

Matt,

Yes the permits do have to be applied for before the hunt. The USF&WL service does think they are the "World Animal Cops". You have absolutely no idea how many trophies are being confiscated across the USA because of small technical or clerical errors which they will not allow to be corrected. The unsuspecting victim is not even allowed to send the trophy back to the country of origin. The trophy's are considered contraband, the same category as illegal drugs. This is a serious assault on the rights of the hunter and a part of the broader anti-hunter agenda.

For another example of the USF&WL service double standards take a look at our latest video produced for Hunter Proud and Conservation Force here http://www.safarinewsreel.com/blog/?p=782

Wish SCi could put as much effort into doing something about the import ban here in Aust. so we could bring elephant trophies into the country.

quote:

Originally posted by zhaba:
Wish SCI could put as much effort into doing something about the import ban here in Aust. so we could bring elephant trophies into the country.

I have been doing a bit of work on that here and the time is right because the legislation is old and tired. I cant see SCI itself putting any effort into that but the chapter here should!!

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by zhaba:
Wish SCI could put as much effort into doing something about the import ban here in Aust. so we could bring elephant trophies into the country.

I have been doing a bit of work on that here and the time is right because the legislation is old and tired. I cant see SCI itself putting any effort into that but the chapter here should!!

Is Australia trying to become the Worlds Widlife cop?

Being serious, has anyone asked the USF&WS why they have not issued any import permits for Sulieman Mahrkor? I am not that familiar with the geography of Pakistan but I wonder if the US Gov. is concerened that the added moneys funelled into Baluchestan will end up funding the Taliban or other Islamic extremeists.

465H&H

I saw a couple of bulls that would go high 50's in Peter Chipman's (Kwalata Safaris) area in lower Lupande this past spring while chasing other animals. Cows were quite belligerant and liked to chase Safari trucks.

USFWS are still basturds for not making this retroactive and for not allowing Black Faced Impala, and Cheetah imports----I suppose they want the species irradicated....same on Polar Bear altho I will never hunt one.
I have a freind whose choice on his leopard, sitting in Atlanta with a valid CITES permit, is to be destroyed or shipped back to Africa----the "seal" on the mounted trophy was not the original seal.....

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by zhaba:
Wish SCI could put as much effort into doing something about the import ban here in Aust. so we could bring elephant trophies into the country.

I have been doing a bit of work on that here and the time is right because the legislation is old and tired. I cant see SCI itself putting any effort into that but the chapter here should!!

You are correct that it would be a chapter obligation to get a campaign started.

Suggest that you have someone appointed the front man.

One of the first things he should do is to contact whomever is in charge of SCI's Washington Office now (it used to be Rick Parsons) and seek advice and assistance on a game plan.

His next step would be to launch an ear-marked fund raising program to finance what could be a long process.

Msjor expenses probably will include hiring an Australian attorney who is familiar with your country's wildlife laws, as well as travel for the attorney, your front man and his committee to meet with members of your parliment and wildlife agency.

Bill Quimby

465H&H,

I am not sure if you watched the whole Suleiman Markhor video but the production centers around that question, Why wont the USF&WS issues permits? The Torghar Conservation Project and John Jackson have been asking that question in the US courts since 1999.

If the US government were concerned that the money generated through hunting would be used by Islamic extremists then they would not allow the hunting and importation of the Afghan urial which occurs in the same place. In fact they would prohibit Americans from hunting anywhere in Pakistan.

FYI the people of the Torghar mountains do not support the Taliban.

http://www.huntingreport.com/w...te.cfm?articleid=565


Update

If you are a US hunter, the lifting of the import ban is not retroactive if you took a Zambia Ele previously....that lawsuit is still pending.
While hunting with Peter Chipman in his Lower Lupanda concession two year ago, I saw two bulls that exceeded 50lbs. And many small Matriarch herds that did not like vehicles or people on foot----aggressive beeches!
OOOPS....sorry....must have been having a gin and tonic and didn't remember earlier post......think I will go have a gin and tonic...

Also saw four Leopards in the middle of the day if you are interested in such info...

Tom,

I saw 40#-50# bulls in Lower Lupande in '98. There must be some big boys there now somewhere. I agree the breeding herds there are numerous and aggressive. We ran from them on several occasions.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
I have been doing a bit of work on that here and the time is right because the legislation is old and tired. I cant see SCI itself putting any effort into that but the chapter here should!!

Is Australia trying to become the Worlds Widlife cop?

They dont even know who they are!!! At least we can pretty much get what we like in here, in that they dont assume that they know more about the conservation of the particular species than the exporting nation ... with the notable exception of elephants and spotted cats....