In May of 2014 I sent a letter to then Rep. Michael Michaud, Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Angus King regarding a recent law imposed by USFW to make illegal the importation of legally harvested elephant parts from Zimbabwe and Tanzania. We have no vested interest in the hunting industry and or its success. My concern is only for the responsible management and preservation of the African elephant. My letter spelled out my concern in regards to the poaching of elephant in Zimbabwe specifically and how this law would increase this illegal activity. I have spent nineteen years traveling to Zimbabwe totaling over a year and a half on the ground in the African bush. During these trips I interacted with elephant daily as well as many of the other indigenous species to this area. I have a first hand in depth knowledge of the impact that the United States Fish and Wildlifes law will have on the African elephant. It will be the demise of this magnificent creature robbing my grand children of the opportunity to walk with them in their natural habitat as I and many others have done. Senator Collins responded after about three weeks. The response was nothing more than a form letter dug up that contained the word elephant and ivory. The letter proceeded to inform me of how CITES works, an act that I am more familiar with than Senator Collins after dealing directly with it for nineteen years. Nowhere in the letter were my issues addressed. Rep. Michauds office offered no response at all. Sen. Kings office responded with a well written letter that outlined his support of the law. Although I disagree with his decision at least he had the courtesy of a well thought out response that directly addressed my concerns. I can easily respect an individual who disagrees with me but does so by being forthright and thorough in his or her reasons for differing. If any of you would like to watch a very well done documentary of the current situation of the African elephant and the results that the USFWs law will ultimately have please take a few minutes to view the attached. Thanks for reading and I welcome any healthy discussion on this topic. vimeo/user17366897/review/116473289/88ae4be861
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 20:25:24 +0000
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