The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today listed three North African antelope species, the scimitar-horned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle, as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). The listing as endangered makes it illegal to engage in certain activities such as the import or export of specimens of these species without an ESA permit, which are issued only if an activity has a conservation benefit.
Simultaneously, the agency issued a final rule to encourage this countrys captive-breeding programs for these species by excluding U.S. captive-bred live specimens, including gametes and embryos, and sport-hunted trophies from some ESA prohibitions, provided certain criteria are met.
"Habitat loss, unregulated killing, and political instability have led to the near disappearance of all three antelope species in the wild in their native countries," said Service Deputy Director Marshall Jones. "On the other hand, existing U.S. captive-breeding programs have been so successful that the Service decided to ease certain ESA prohibitions to ensure captive-bred antelopes will be available to use in efforts to conserve their wild kin."
Captive breeding in the United States has enhanced the propagation and survival of the scimitar-horned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle worldwide by rescuing these species from near extinction and providing the founder stock necessary for reintroduction. Many U.S. captive-breeding facilities, such as zoos and ranches, are working with countries such as Tunisia and Morocco to breed and reintroduce the antelopes in the arid North African habitat they historically occupied. As additional opportunities arise for reintroduction, captive-breeding programs will provide genetically diverse and otherwise suitable animals. Ranches and large captive wildlife parks for non-native populations offer large areas of land that simulate the species native habitat and can accommodate a larger number of animals than can most urban zoos; they also provide opportunities for studying, breeding, and preparing antelopes for eventual reintroduction into the wild in North Africa.
"An international partnership of zoos, private landowners, researchers, and range country officials agree that, without captive breeding, it would be difficult, or in some cases impossible, to restore many animals to their native habitats, particularly for species that may have become extinct in the wild," Jones said.
Although todays rule supports these important conservation programs, it does not exempt captive-bred antelopes from the specific permit requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or apply to antelopes bred in captivity in other countries. It also does not apply to any animal taken from the wild.
The two final rules are available on the Services International Affairs website at: http://international.fws.gov/fedregister/fedreg.html
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million- acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices, and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American Tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife agencies.
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