Moran Urges Additional Protections for Threatened African Lions

Washington, DC – Congressman Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat and co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus, today joined with Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and a bipartisan group of 44 lawmakers to send a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in support of protecting the African lion under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

“Based upon the latest scientific evidence, African lions are increasingly threatened with extinction in the wild,” said Rep. Moran. “As the world’s leading importer of these iconic creatures, the U.S. must accept our share of the responsibility to preserve their future. Listing the African lion in the Endangered Species Act is an important first step to ensuring these vulnerable animals are protected.”

Specifically, protection under ESA would reduce the incentive to kill lions by preventing hunters from bringing them back to the U.S. as trophies. The African lion is in danger of extinction throughout a significant portion of its habitat and therefore meets the statutory criteria to be listed as endangered under the ESA. As few as 32,000 African lions are in existence today. In most countries where they exist, their populations are too small and isolated to maintain their species.

“The African lion population has decreased by over 50 percent during the past three decades, said Rep. Blumenauer. “Due to habitat loss, hunting, disease and more, this animal is now in real danger of extinction. The United States has a long history of leading the way in global conservation efforts and should act swiftly to protect this treasured species.”

On March 1, 2011, a coalition of wildlife protection and conservation organizations petitioned the Secretary of the Interior to list the African lion as an endangered subspecies pursuant to the ESA. On November 27th, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened a 60-day comment period on listing the African lion under ESA. Today’s letter was submitted for inclusion in the comment period.

“Right now Americans kill more lions through trophy hunting, and import more lion parts for commercial trade, than any other country in the world.  However, we could become a global leader in protecting African lions, rather than a contributor to their disappearance in the wild, by listing them as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act,” stated Jeff Flocken, North America Regional Director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

“The African lion is facing an uncertain future at best,” said Adam Roberts, Executive Vice President of Born Free USA. “There is a real possibility that more African countries will lose their wild lions altogether if the current situation is not reversed. We need to take urgent measures to conserve the African lion before it’s too late.”

In addition to habitat loss, the bushmeat trade, exotic diseases, conflict with livestock farmers, and illegal trade for use in traditional medicine, studies show that the United States is the world’s largest importer of African lion parts, responsible for 64 percent of global imports from 1999 to 2008.

“The United States is the leading importer of lions and lion parts for hunting trophies and commercial trade—this includes skulls, claws, hides, and live lions,” said Teresa Telecky, Director of Wildlife, The Humane Society of the United States. “Some Americans’ thirst for exotic goods and trophies to hang on their walls is driving lions to extinction. The African lion simply cannot endure this level of exploitation if their long-term survival is to be ensured.”

Full text of the letter below:

January 28, 2013

The Honorable Ken Salazar                                                                            
Secretary of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240

Dear Secretary Salazar:

In light of the November 27, 2012 announcement regarding the opening of a 60-day public comment period on whether the African lion requires protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), we are writing today to thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for initiating this review and to urge the agency to take necessary action before this imperiled species disappears from the wild.

The best available science indicates that the African lion is disappearing at an alarming rate and is in danger of extinction throughout a significant portion of its range. Over the past three decades, the number of wild African lions has decreased by more than 50 percent. It is estimated that in 1980, 75,800 African lions lived in Africa.  Current research signals that as few as 32,000 remain today.

Studies further identify the United States as the world’s largest importer of lion trophies, responsible for 64 percent of global imports from 1999 to 2008. During the same time period, the United States imported lions and lion parts from 12 countries where lion mortality from trophy hunting and trade offtake was determined to be unsustainable.

African lions are the only big cat without protections from trade under the ESA. An ESA listing would meaningfully contribute to African lion conservation by prohibiting importation of lion parts into the U.S. unless such imports would enhance the propagation or survival of African lions.  In addition, listing African lions would provide the United States with the opportunity to give greater support to range states in their efforts to protect lion habitat and eliminate other threats to lions.  

Right now, the future of the African lion is bleak, and it is incumbent upon the United States—a nation with a history of proactive conservation measures both at home and abroad—to act now to protect this species before it is too late.

We thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of this important matter.

                                                                        Sincerely,

Jim Moran                                                                               
Earl Blumenauer
Loretta Sanchez                                                                      
Steve Cohen
Gregory Meeks                                                                       
Jerrold Nadler
Wm. Lacy Clay                                                                       
Alcee Hastings
John Conyers                                                                          
William Keating
George Miller                                                                          
Carolyn Maloney
Tom Marino                                                                             
Sam Farr
Barbara Lee                                                                             
Jim Himes
Madeleine Bordallo                                                                
Betty McCollum
Zoe Lofgren                                                                            
Tim Ryan
Susan Davis                                                                            
Henry Waxman
John Lewis                                                                              
Raul Grijalva
Gary Peters                                                                             
Mike Honda
Michael Capuano                                                                    
Ted Deutch
Sander Levin                                                                           
Hank Johnson
David Price                                                                             
James Langevin
Jan Schakowsky                                                                      
Paul Tonko
Adam Schiff                                                                           
Rush Holt
Elijah Cummings                                                                     
Brad Sherman
David Cicilline                                                                        
Eliot Engel
Stephen Lynch                                                                        
Joe Courtney
John Tierney                                                                            
Lois Capps                                                                  

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