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Expected Announcement From U.S. FWS Will Close Elephant Imports From Zimbabwe, Tanzania

For Immediate Release: April 4, 2014

Washington, D.C. – Statement By Safari Club International President Craig Kauffman

fws closing import of ivory from ele bull hunting in Zim and Tanz

“Safari Club International’s advocacy team is alerting the international conservation community that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to soon announce a new policy to reject all elephant ivory imports from Zimbabwe and Tanzania. It is unknown precisely when the decision by the U.S. FWS will occur, but SCI will do everything in its power to fight this reckless decision that has no basis in law, science, or conservation policy.

“International hunters are the first line of defense for conservation, management, and anti-poaching throughout Africa. When wildlife has no value, it will most certainly be slaughtered indiscriminately. In 2003 trophy hunting generated $12 billion Zimbabwe dollars and accounted for approximately 60-90% of all revenues for that country's Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management. SCI’s members have purchased bull elephant tags to benefit the CAMPFIRE Foundation in Zimbabwe who conduct anti-poaching work throughout the communal lands of their country. SCI’s members have paid more than $100,000 to support elephant conservation from 2012-2014, whereas the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has spent only $56,000 to protect Zimbabwe’s elephants from 2011-2013 through the Multinational Species Conservation Grants.

“Safari Club does not know all the details of the upcoming announcement by U.S. FWS to halt importations of elephant ivory from these two countries, but we do know the announcement could come soon. SCI’s Washington team will do everything within our power to fight back against this misguided and baseless policy.”

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Contact: Nelson Freeman, Media@safariclub.org

Safari Club International – First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s approximately 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.safariclub.org or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.

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"I don't want to create an encyclopedic atmosphere here when we might be having a beer instead" P H Capstick in "Safari the last adventure."

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