AR-News: (US-WY) ANIMAL PROTECTION GROUPS SPEAK OUT AGAINST WILD BUFFALO HUNT

[Tracey McIntire]

  For Immediate Release

ANIMAL PROTECTION GROUPS SPEAK OUT AGAINST WILD BUFFALO HUNT

CASPER, WYOMING (June 23, 2004)  In comments submitted last Friday to 
the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, The Fund for Animals, The Humane 
Society of the United States (HSUS), and the Buffalo Field Campaign 
(BFC) expressed their opposition to the continuation of a wild buffalo 
hunt in Wyoming. The groups cited their concerns that the hunt would 
impact protected buffalo herds and that it 
lacks any semblance of 
providing a fair-chase hunt,
 and recommended that all buffalo hunting 
in Wyoming be stopped. The groups also provided specific comments on 
proposed changes to Wyoming buffalo hunting regulations.


There has been absolutely no scientific justification for shooting wild 
buffalo in Wyoming,
 said D.J. Schubert, wildlife biologist for The Fund 
for Animals. 
While the threat of brucellosis transmission from buffalo 
to domestic cattle has been raised, The Fund and The Humane Society of 
the United States dispute this allegation and feel that the ongoing hunt 
will have no impact on whatever risk of transmission of that disease, 
albeit miniscule, that might exist.



The only discernible wildlife management purpose served by this hunt 
is the recreational opportunities provided for a few huntersthose who 
are not bothered by the questionable ethics of shooting an animal who 
does not run away,
 said Bette Stallman, wildlife scientist at HSUS. 

Furthermore, the current hunting regulations are structured in a way 
that maximizes the chances of orphaning dependent buffalo calves. Thats 
simply not defensible.



Instead of debating proposed regulatory changes, the Wyoming Game and 
Fish Department should vote to terminate all buffalo hunting in the 
state to protect the integrity and reputation of Wyoming hunting and 
hunters,
 said Schubert. 
Without scientific justification for the hunt, 
it is nothing but a trophy shoot.


The comments by The Fund for Animals, HSUS, and BFC can be viewed online 
at http://www.fund.org/library/documentViewer.asp?ID=1486&table=documents

The Fund for Animals is a national animal protection organization 
headquartered in New York City. The Fund has been a tireless advocate 
for buffalo in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem since 1985.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nations largest animal 
protection organization with over eight million members and 
constituents. For nearly 50 years, The HSUS has protected all animals 
through legislation, litigation, investigation, advocacy, and field work.

The Buffalo Field Campaign is the only group working in the field, 
everyday, to stop the slaughter of Yellowstones wild buffalo.