Scientists Tell U.S.FWS African Lion Is Not Endangered
Washington, DC – Today, experts on the status of the African lion explained to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that the African lion is not on the brink of extinction. Their testimony contradicts the claims in a petition filed by several anti-rights groups asking the service to list the African lion as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Safari Club International Foundation (SCI Foundation) participated in an exclusive workshop hosted by the FWS. SCI Foundation Conservation Chair Dr. Al Maki outlined current conservation efforts across the lion’s range and focused on Tanzania’s successful management of the species.
“Today’s presenters and scientists agreed with SCI Foundation’s position that the majority of African lion populations are secure,” said SCI Foundation President Joe Hosmer. “We are glad that SCI Foundation’s extensive lion population research could shape today’s important conservation and thus prove the African lion is not on the brink of extinction.”
“With years of experience researching lions in southern Africa, I was originally concerned that the FWS’s deliberations would not be based on the best available science,” Dr. Paula White. “I was pleased to see that the overwhelming evidence that was presented today demonstrated that lions are certainly not on the brink of extinction.”
“Lions reproduce like rabbits making habitat and prey the primary factor. Habitat and prey are secured for at least 100 years in the world’s largest protected areas,” stated John J. Jackson, President of Conservation Force.
“After today’s successful meeting, the FWS will be faced with a decision whether to list the African lion on the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Our expectation is that it will not be necessary as the scientific research demonstrates that there are strong stable lion populations throughout southern and eastern Africa,” said Dr. Al Maki. “The fact is that 70% of all African lions live in strongholds that are large, stable and well-protected.
About SCI Foundation’s Conservation Programs for African Lions:
SCI Foundation’s mission is to fund and direct worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation and outdoor education, using its financial resources to support scientific and technical studies that categorically improve management practices for keystone species like African lions. SCI Foundation has provided the majority of financial support for research to be conducted on the conservation status of lions in Tanzania (2010), Mozambique (2009), Malawi (2010), and Zambia (2009) which included conservation strategy and action plan for the country.

Good for SCI and the SCI's Foundation, Oh I am sorry I can't post that on AR.

Wonders never cease ha?

Of course you can post something positive that SCI has done.

In fact, I would rather see more of this than all the gripes we have regarding their past performance.

About time they have opened their eyes, anyway

Saeed it wasn't very long ago - weeks or months - they were being RIP on AR for their lack of support for Lion conservation. I am sure this did not happen over night but has been in their program for a good while.

Here is what John Jackson says about the workshop...


From: John J. Jackson, III [mailto:cf@conservationforce.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 8:15 AM
Subject: FWS Lion Workshop

We won a round today against the listing of the African lion.
Conservation Force's theme was that the future of the lion is not in doubt because of the enormity of the agreed upon "strongholds" the size of entire countries in other parts of the world. The lion reproduces like rabbits while its habitat and prey base is secured on many hundreds of millions of acres far exceeding the size of the protected areas in the USA. The best available scientific information in multiple estimates over the past decade consistently conclude in peer reviewed documentation that most lion (24,000) are in "strongholds" that are stable or increasing, and potentially viable for 100 years or more.
Moreover, some promising populations and areas of growth have not been included. Conservation Force's questions of expert speakers throughout the unique 8-hour workshop and its Powerpoint presentation left no doubt that the lion should not be listed at all in its primary range today which is East and South Africa where 74 percent of its habitat and 90 percent of lion populations exist. The message caught many by surprise but once presented, could not be denied.

--
John J. Jackson, III
CONSERVATION FORCE
3240 S. I-10 Service Road W., Suite 200
Metairie, Louisiana 70001
Tel: (504) 837-1233
Fax: (504) 837-1145
jjw-no@att.net
www.conservationforce.org

Some people have no idea how much SCI is doing for ALL hunters worldwide. The anti-SCI crap on here is just disgusting.

Then again, this is just a small corner of the Internet, and we all know it's full of keyboard warriors.

quote:

Lions reproduce like rabbits

Not to nitpick, but for an issue as critical as this, especially in a formal setting where scientific data, precision and accuracy carry considerable weight, it's important to choose one's words carefully, and I expect that any scientist would begin to question the credibility of someone who made the above statement, which is far from being accurate.

Everyone knows what he meant, but that's not how these deliberations work, nor is it how scientists think ...

... for what it's worth.

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
Saeed it wasn't very long ago - weeks or months - they were being RIP on AR for their lack of support for Lion conservation. I am sure this did not happen over night but has been in their program for a good while.

Ed,
I was probably the one you were referring to above. I was not ripping them apart at all. I was being critical of them for not taking a certain action that was a win-win for lions and hunters.

How ever we get there...I want lions to win in the end and for that to happen...they must stay huntable.

SCI has its opinion on how win this and I hope they are right.

Lane I was not refering to any one in particular as there were and are many who seem to enjoy raggin on SCI. It is funny I have only been to the SCI show once and then discovered DSC and you know how much I enjoy comming to Dallas. That does not reduce my respect for SCI and DSC, both very good org.