INGRAM, Texas — Promoting wildlife conservation through commerce, the Exotic Wildlife Association (EWA) recently saddled up for an open forum discussion at the Texas Department of Agriculture’s new GO TEXAN wildlife exhibit at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. EWA Executive Director Charly Seale addressed some of the more than 5,000 daily visitors at the exhibit and warned of pending federal regulations that will dramatically impact the Texas hunting industry.
“We’re fighting to protect the private property rights of ranchers and working to preserve the legal hunting status of the Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax and Dama Gazelle antelope,” said Seale. “While the new federal enforcement is initially targeting these three species, the rules will ultimately effect many other exotic animals like Blackbuck and Axis deer, species which are currently thriving in Texas but will quickly be put at risk.”
The Texas Department of Agriculture’s new GO TEXAN Wildlife Initiative targets businesses and organizations based around wildlife activities related to Texas grown or processed products and Texas rural communities. Hunting and exotic animal ranches are a big part of the statewide initiative as the exotic animal industry contributes significantly to the state’s annual $15.8 billion in wildlife-related revenue.
The Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax and Dama Gazelle are currently classified as an endangered species, however, a special rule enacted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in September 2005 made it possible for owners of captive herds to purchase, sell and breed these animals on ranches across the United States.
Last July, however, a Federal judge ruled that the three species, which are born and raised in the United States, will no longer 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 culling and other management activities without special permits by the Federal government.
The EWA has filed an appeal regarding this judge’s ruling which overturned a special rule put in place by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Department that allowed three antelope species to be born, raised and freely traded in the United States without the USFWD permitting process.
“The rare animals have rebounded by the thousands under the special rule. Without it, all of our conservation efforts will be wasted and these three species, and others, will certainly disappear from the face of the earth,” added Seale.
To learn more about the Exotic Wildlife Association or to donate to the Save Exotic Wildlife Fund, call 830.367.7761, email saveanimals@exoticwildlifeassociation.com or visit www.exoticwildlifeassociation.com.
Headquartered in Ingram, Texas, the Exotic Wildlife Association is dedicated to encourage and to expand the conservation of indigenous and non-indigenous hoofstock animals, and to foster development of the alternative livestock market through agricultural diversity. For more information on EWA, call 830.367.7761 or visit www.exoticwildlifeassociation.com.
