Guest guest Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=78526 Blood money from US hunters flow into Indian conservation kitty Canned hunters try conservation game: One US ranch fakes donation to WII, another funds Barasingha project JAY MAZOOMDAAR Posted online: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 19: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) might have ruffled diplomatic feathers by rejecting an US government proposal for tiger funds but donations are trickling in from certain American canned hunting organisations. Texas-based 007 Ranch, through a US NGO Conservation Force, has been sponsoring a Barasingha programme run by Aligarh’s Wildlife Society of India in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. Florida’s TRL Exotics claimed to have donated $250 to the Wildlife Institute of India, a claim dismissed by the prestigious institute. ‘‘Now you know the colour of their money. They even dare fake reputed names. It’s sad if we have takers for such peanuts,’’ fumed a senior MoEF official. Pressured by wildlife groups, the US government decided not to renew licenses for canned hunting unless ranches donate 10 per cent of profit towards conservation efforts. As no reputed NGO accepts their money, many such ranches are targeting small-time NGOs and even fudging proofs of donation. Licence renewal applications submitted to Department of Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service—available with The Indian Express—show that 007 Ranch has been donating 10 per cent of proceedings to Conservation Force to fund a Barasingha project conducted by Wildlife Society of India, an NGO run by the faculty members of Aligarh Muslim University’s Center of Ornithology and Wildlfie. The latest installment of $4,000 was handed over in November last year. ‘‘We get money from Conservation Force for our Barasingha programme. But we have no idea if it comes from canned hunting ranches,’’ said Afifullah Khan, professor, AMU, and vice president, Wildlife Society of India. What’s canned hunting Canned hunting is the killing of an animal in an enclosure to collect a warranted trophy for a hefty premium. The animals are often tame exotic mammals some even hand-raised so that they do not run from hunters. There are more than 1000 canned hunting ranches in at least 28 US states. Trophies range from numerous species of Asian and African antelope, deer, zebra to crocodile, lion and even tiger. In its website, however, Conservation Force prominently quotes former US President Theodore Roosevelt to justify ‘‘why we hunt’’: ‘‘In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen.’’ With its licence renewal application, TRL Exotics has attached photocopy of a cheque of just $250—dated 3rd May, ’05—drawn in favour of the Wildlife Institute of India for ‘‘propagation of Barasingha species’’. Both 007 ranch and TRL Exotics offer Barasingha as trophies for $4,500. ‘‘Is this a joke? One, we don’t accept $250. Two, a national institute cannot accept funds without the government’s clearance. Three, we won’t anyway accept money generated by canned hunting. As per our reports, this cheque went to an Aligarh-based NGO. I am thinking of exploring legal options,’’ said PR Sinha, director, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. Dr Jamal Ahmed Khan, professor, AMU, and secretary, Wildlife Society of India, claimed his organisation never received any money for TRL Exotics. ‘‘I didn’t even hear the name before,’’ he said. ‘‘It is preposterous for a ranch to use the name of a reputed Indian institute. And if the Aligarh NGO is indeed running their Barasingha project with funds from canned hunting groups, I strongly condemn it. No conservation effort can be fuelled by blood,’’ said Ashok Kumar, senior advisor, Wildlife Trust of India. ‘‘I keep seeing advertisements of canned tiger hunt in the web. These animals’ body parts get distributed around the world and encourage market for our wild stock. Of course, Indian ethics doesn’t permit accepting money from canned hunters,’’ said Dr Rajesh Gopal, director Project Tiger. ‘‘We at WWF don’t even take money from liquor companies. It is shocking that Indian NGOs should accept grants from canned hunting ranches,’’ said P K Sen, chief of WWF-India, Wildlife programme. Despite repeated attempts, TRL Holdings, 007 Ranch and Conservation Force officials did not comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Canned hunting is truly disgusting - " " <shubhobrotoghosh <aapn > Thursday, September 22, 2005 4:11 PM AMERICAN HUNTERS EYE INDIA http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=78526 Blood money from US hunters flow into Indian conservation kitty Canned hunters try conservation game: One US ranch fakes donation to WII, another funds Barasingha project JAY MAZOOMDAAR Posted online: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 19: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) might have ruffled diplomatic feathers by rejecting an US government proposal for tiger funds but donations are trickling in from certain American canned hunting organisations. Texas-based 007 Ranch, through a US NGO Conservation Force, has been sponsoring a Barasingha programme run by Aligarh's Wildlife Society of India in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary. Florida's TRL Exotics claimed to have donated $250 to the Wildlife Institute of India, a claim dismissed by the prestigious institute. ''Now you know the colour of their money. They even dare fake reputed names. It's sad if we have takers for such peanuts,'' fumed a senior MoEF official. Pressured by wildlife groups, the US government decided not to renew licenses for canned hunting unless ranches donate 10 per cent of profit towards conservation efforts. As no reputed NGO accepts their money, many such ranches are targeting small-time NGOs and even fudging proofs of donation. Licence renewal applications submitted to Department of Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service-available with The Indian Express-show that 007 Ranch has been donating 10 per cent of proceedings to Conservation Force to fund a Barasingha project conducted by Wildlife Society of India, an NGO run by the faculty members of Aligarh Muslim University's Center of Ornithology and Wildlfie. The latest installment of $4,000 was handed over in November last year. ''We get money from Conservation Force for our Barasingha programme. But we have no idea if it comes from canned hunting ranches,'' said Afifullah Khan, professor, AMU, and vice president, Wildlife Society of India. What's canned hunting Canned hunting is the killing of an animal in an enclosure to collect a warranted trophy for a hefty premium. The animals are often tame exotic mammals some even hand-raised so that they do not run from hunters. There are more than 1000 canned hunting ranches in at least 28 US states. Trophies range from numerous species of Asian and African antelope, deer, zebra to crocodile, lion and even tiger. In its website, however, Conservation Force prominently quotes former US President Theodore Roosevelt to justify ''why we hunt'': ''In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen.'' With its licence renewal application, TRL Exotics has attached photocopy of a cheque of just $250-dated 3rd May, '05-drawn in favour of the Wildlife Institute of India for ''propagation of Barasingha species''. Both 007 ranch and TRL Exotics offer Barasingha as trophies for $4,500. ''Is this a joke? One, we don't accept $250. Two, a national institute cannot accept funds without the government's clearance. Three, we won't anyway accept money generated by canned hunting. As per our reports, this cheque went to an Aligarh-based NGO. I am thinking of exploring legal options,'' said PR Sinha, director, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. Dr Jamal Ahmed Khan, professor, AMU, and secretary, Wildlife Society of India, claimed his organisation never received any money for TRL Exotics. ''I didn't even hear the name before,'' he said. ''It is preposterous for a ranch to use the name of a reputed Indian institute. And if the Aligarh NGO is indeed running their Barasingha project with funds from canned hunting groups, I strongly condemn it. No conservation effort can be fuelled by blood,'' said Ashok Kumar, senior advisor, Wildlife Trust of India. ''I keep seeing advertisements of canned tiger hunt in the web. These animals' body parts get distributed around the world and encourage market for our wild stock. Of course, Indian ethics doesn't permit accepting money from canned hunters,'' said Dr Rajesh Gopal, director Project Tiger. ''We at WWF don't even take money from liquor companies. It is shocking that Indian NGOs should accept grants from canned hunting ranches,'' said P K Sen, chief of WWF-India, Wildlife programme. Despite repeated attempts, TRL Holdings, 007 Ranch and Conservation Force officials did not comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.