U.S. and Mongolian Scientists and Animal Protection Groups File Lawsuit to Prevent Import of Endangered Argali Sheep Killed by Trophy Hunters

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U.S. and Mongolian Scientists and Animal Protection Groups File Lawsuit to

Prevent Import of Endangered Argali Sheep Killed by Trophy Hunters

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TO FOREIGN, ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATIONAL EDITORS:

U.S. and Mongolian Scientists and Animal Protection Groups File Lawsuit to

Prevent Import of Endangered Argali Sheep Killed by Trophy Hunters

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, Apr. 16 -/E-Wire/-- Today, several animal protection organizations, conservation groups, and scientists filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) granting of import permits for imperiled argali sheep killed by trophy hunters, and its failure to issue a timely final rule listing the argali as an endangered species throughout its range in Asia. The plaintiffs include The Fund for Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, The Humane Society of the United States, Earth Island Institute, Argali Wildlife Research Center in Mongolia, former FWS scientist Ron Nowak, and Mongolian scientists Sukh Amgalanbaatar and Zundui Namshir.

The argali sheep is the largest species of wild sheep in the world, weighing 210-310 pounds, with massive spiral horns up to 75 inches long and 20 inches in circumference. The species has experienced a significant decline in habitat and range, due to factors including domestic livestock using habitat that was formerly used by the argali. Among the threats that the argali face is hunting by foreign trophy hunters, including U.S. citizens, who take dead argali trophies back with them to their home countries. Hunters are not permitted to bring these trophies into the U.S. without import permits issued by the FWS. The lawsuit alleges that the permits are being issued illegally in violation of the Endangered Species Act and other rules specific to the argali.

In 1976, in response to a petition filed by The Fund for Animals, the FWS listed a subspecies of the argali sheep, but not the entire species, as endangered. In 1992, however, given the continuing decline of the species, the FWS listed the entire species as endangered throughout most of its range, but only as threatened in the countries of Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan, issuing a special rule setting forth stringent conditions that would have to be met before import of argali trophies from those countries would be allowed. In 1993, the FWS proposed changing the listing from threatened to endangered because of increased concern for the survival of the species. Many years later, the proposed rule is still outstanding. Remarkably, despite the prohibition on importation, in the past five years the FWS has granted more than 550 permits for the importation of Argali trophies into the U.S., and more than 100 issued permits are still valid.

According to Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The Fund for Animals, "It is unconscionable that hundreds of animals in this imperiled species have been killed simply so wealthy American trophy hunters can add more heads to their collections. The Fish and Wildlife Service has acted illegally and irresponsibly by granting hundreds of import permits, by not soliciting or considering public comment, and by leaving this proposed rule in limbo while the argali population continues to decline."

Added Wayne Pacelle, senior vice president of The Humane Society of the United States, "The Fish and Wildlife Service is not protecting argali sheep from wealthy trophy hunters, even though the agency all but recognizes that the species is endangered with extinction. Because trophy hunters have almost an obsessive fascination with killing these majestic animals, argali sheep are at acute risk and must be fully protected."

A copy of the 23-page lawsuit filed today is available by calling [REDACTED-PHONE], ext. 216.

SOURCE The Fund for Animals -0- 04/16/2001 /CONTACT: Howard Crystal of Meyer & Glitzenstein, [REDACTED-PHONE]; D.J. Schubert of Schubert & Associates, [REDACTED-PHONE]; Michael Markarian of The Fund for Animals, [REDACTED-PHONE], ext. 216; or Rachel Querry of The Humane Society of the United States, [REDACTED-PHONE]/ /Web site: http://www.fund.org/

The Fund for Animals

Howard Crystal of Meyer & Glitzenstein, [REDACTED-PHONE]; D.J.

Schubert of Schubert & Associates, [REDACTED-PHONE]; Michael Markarian of The Fund

for Animals, [REDACTED-PHONE], ext. 216; or Rachel Querry of The Humane Society of

the United States, [REDACTED-PHONE]

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