I received and email today that USF&W is looking to down list the "straight horn" Markhor from endangered to threatened which will allow for CITES importation to the US. I believe this covers the Sulieman Markhor only. The Pir Punjal/Kashmir Markhor is already importable and the Astor I believe remains unable to be imported. Perhaps it will be next.

Brett

Wonderful! The recovery of markhor in the past few years through strict management should be mentioned in our pro hunting arguments.

Rule To Downlist Straight-Horned Markhor Proposed By U.S. Fish And Wildlife: Announcing the good news to SCI prior to the Federal Register notice, SCI was contacted by the Deputy Chief from the Division of Congressional and Legislative Affairs about the proposed markhor rule. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed a rule to downlist straight-horned markhor from “endangered” to “threatened” status. This proposal is huge! It admits that “hunting” is the main reason why the species recovered and can be downlisted, “markhor populations significantly increased only in conservation areas managed for trophy hunting” (Pakistani Government). It also forces FWS to acknowledge that because U.S. hunters were not allowed to import markhor trophies while the species is/was classified as endangered, U.S. hunters could not actively participate in a conservation effort that resulted in a species’ recovery. The dowlisting includes a special rule that will make importation of markhor possible due to its proposed threatened status. To read the proposed rule, go to http://1.usa.gov/QPRv8Y

Thank you SCI.