http://www.helpelephants.com/feature_070131.html

Zambia Asks U.S. to Resume Elephant Trophy Hunting

Urge Fish & Wildlife Service to reject request and maintain current ban

The Republic of Zambia in Southern Africa is asking the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to allow American hunters to shoot elephants in their country so they can raise money for conservation and community programs. Hunters from the U.S. are currently prohibited from participation in elephant safaris in compliance with the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Yet the Zambian government is now actually arguing that killing some of the elephants will help conserve the species.

Zambian officials recently attended a five-day Safari Club International convention in Reno, Nev. which was attended by 19,000 delegates from all over the world to meet with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service director. They claim the licensing fees paid by wealthy sport hunters for the privilege of killing elephants in Africa will finance the protection of their kin. However, even trophy hunters have openly criticized the Zambian government for the corruption that drives their safari industry. Any money raised by this scheme will likely wind up lining the pockets of those in power, not helping elephants in the wild.

Real elephant conservation is done with caring about the well being of elephants as individuals and a species—not killing these animals for profit. Elephants don't belong to one country or even to the human race: they exist for their own reasons. Claiming that some elephants must be sacrificed so that others may survive is not a valid or effective strategy for preserving these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

What You Can Do

Please politely urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reject Zambia's request to allow American trophy hunters to participate in elephant safaris. You can write to them either at their website:

http://www.fws.gov/duspit/contactus.htm

Or by postal mail:

H. Dale Hall, Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240