ADWA ACTION ALERT

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Death Warrant on Exotic Species

A death warrant has been issued on several exotic species, and ADWA needs your support to save these magnificent animals and preserve private property rights.

Three antelope species —the scimitar-horned oryx, dama gazelle and addax — were the subject of special rules that were adopted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on September 2, 2005. Although these three animals are classified as an endangered species, these special rules made it possible for owners of captive herds to continue to engage in activities including the purchase and sales of the animals. The special rules effectively made it possible for ranchers to breed and freely trade these animals on ranches across the United States without the USFWD permitting process.

In fact, the program has been so widely successful that it now fuels a $1.3 billion industry and thousands of jobs mostly in rural America.

The scimitar-horned oryx is a perfect example. Currently, there are thousands of these amazing animals living on preserves and ranches. The Exotic Wildlife Association has established a partnership with the renowned Sahara Conservation Fund and the two groups are working to reintroduce the species back into their native countries.

The success of the game ranches in breeding rare and endangered species, like the scimitar-horned oryx, is an example of how private conservation can affect the worldwide preservation of such animals. Many endangered species are virtually extinct in their native lands, but are flourishing in the United States because ranchers are able to freely buy, sell and breed the animals.

However, three years ago, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) filed a lawsuit to stop the special rules and the EWA and Safari Club International has fought the lawsuit ever since.
   
In July 2009, a Federal judge ruled that the three species which are born and raised in the United States will not be exempted from their listing on the endangered species list.        
   
As a result, ranchers who have owned and cared for these animals for years will be required to cease all breeding, transport, hunting or other management activities without a special permit from the federal government. If this ruling stands these three species will cease to have any value to breeders and could become extinct worldwide.

The ability to raise these animals for breeding or hunting purposes gave these animals a real intrinsic value. In their native countries, these animals had no value and people did not care whether they became extinct. But members of ADWA, EWA, SCI and others do care. Ranchers and hunters brought these animals back from the brink of annihilation because the special rules exception gave these animals value. Without it, no one will invest in the animals’ future. They will die and the anti’s that started it all will just sit, watch and applaud their ‘noble’ deeds.
 
But in the end, what is the more heinous crime — allowing exotic animals to be bred, to grow in population and to eventually be managed through responsible culling, or to orchestrate a legal situation that leads to a planet-wide extinction and the species are lost forever?
 
The American Deer & Wildlife Alliance urges all sportsmen, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts to contact their federal representative and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to voice their support for saving these magnificent animals.

To donate to the Save Exotic Wildlife Fund, call 830.367.7761, email saveanimals@exoticwildlifeassociation.com or visit www.exoticwildlifeassociation.com.