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For Immediate Release
New Bill Funds Protection for Lions, Cheetahs, Wild Dogs and Other Endangered Foreign Cat and Dog Species
Wildlife Groups Team Up with Lawmakers on Big Cat Conservation
Washington, DC – Several wildlife groups, including Defenders of Wildlife, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Conservation International, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Wildlife Fund, today joined forces with Congressmen Clay Shaw (R-FL) and Tom Udall (D-NM) to introduce the "Great Cats and Rare Canids Act," which provides funding for the conservation of foreign feline and canine species, including lions, leopards, African wild dogs, and cheetahs, among others.
"The wild cat and dog species protected by this bill face a growing host of threats. Loss of habitat and habitat degradation, poaching and exploitation for skins and medicinal trades, disease, and pollution are all taking their toll," said Nina Fascione, Vice President of Field Conservation for Defenders of Wildlife. "Fortunately, many of these threats are controllable. Today’s bill sets up a fund to assist in the conservation of these important species. It provides financial resources to aid international efforts to preserve and protect these species and their habitats."
The Great Cat and Rare Canid Bill identifies seven feline and six canine species recognized as endangered or threatened under international law. These include many well-known species, such as the lion, leopard, cheetah and jaguar, but also some more obscure animals including the Iberian Lynx; the African Wild Dog; and the Dhole, a rare species of wild dog native to Southern Asia. Several species of wolf from Europe and Africa are also included. The bill creates a new fund for the conservation of these species much as the tiger and other species receive targeted funding under the existing Multinational Species Conservation Fund.
"The American Zoo and Aquarium Association believes strongly that these funds are critical to international wildlife conservation," stated Sydney J. Butler, executive director of the AZA. "America's zoos and aquariums are passionately committed to conserving the world's wild creatures and their habitat, and we are proud to be part of this powerful partnership."
"This bill is an important contribution to U.S. efforts aimed at helping to conserve some of the world’s most cherished and imperiled animals. It underscores the recognition that assisting other nations in sustainably managing their natural resources offers a powerful and worthwhile opportunity for American leadership," said Nicholas Lapham, Vice President for Policy at Conservation International.
"The passing of the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act will be a major step forward in helping ensure that some of the Earth's most endangered and spectacular wild creatures continue to survive for future generations. This act is a testament to the desire of our nation to protect biodiversity, maintain intact wild systems, and share the planet with other species," said Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, director of WCS's Science and Exploration Program.
"This bill is a natural complement to other Multinational Species Conservation Funds established by Congress which contribute immensely to the conservation of flagship species," said Tom Dillon, Director of Species Conservation for World Wildlife Fund. "The population of critically endangered black rhinos, for instance, has increased by 50% in just ten years, from 2,400 to 3,600, thanks to funding from the U.S. and matching grants from private and public sources."
An excellent example of the type of innovative conservation effort this Act would fund is a program in Namibia that uses guard dogs to keep cheetahs away from livestock. For the first time in an American zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is raising a cheetah "Sahara" with an Anatolian Shepherd "Alexa." This unusual and appealing duo is being raised in the Zoo's Cat Ambassador Program to highlight the Zoo's involvement as the USA headquarters of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. In Namibia, the Anatolian is widely used as a guard dog to protect goat and sheep herds. By guarding against predators, the Anatolian Shepherd eliminates the need to trap endangered cheetahs on private farmlands where they range.
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Defenders of Wildlife is one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and habitat, and was named as one of America's Top 100 Charities by Worth magazine. With more than 450,000 members and supporters, Defenders is an effective voice for wildlife and habitat. To learn more about Defenders of Wildlife, please visit www.defenders.org.
