IFAW STATEMENT ON: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allows import permits for Namibia black rhino trophies
WASHINGTON, March 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced its decision to allow the importation of sport-hunted black rhino trophies from Namibia, citing "clear conservation benefits". The permits in question were given to two wealthy American sport hunters who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for the opportunity to kill a critically endangered black rhino, of which only 5,000 remain in the world.
Jeff Flocken, the North American regional director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), responded:
"Killing animals is not conservation – pure and simple. To say otherwise is to distort the gruesome reality of the situation."
Flocken added: "As U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service points out in their statement, Americans make up a disproportionately large share of foreign hunters who book trophy hunts in Africa.
Extravagant trophy hunting of endangered species is the opposite of conservation and gives a bad name to the American people, most of whom find such blood sport antiquated and repulsive. Needless to say, we are disappointed with the Service's decision, which contradicts the very spirit of animal welfare."
About IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare)
Founded in 1969, IFAW saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. For more information, visit www.ifaw.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare
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