美官方取消灰狼保育地位 保育人士抗議 | 環境資訊中心
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美官方取消灰狼保育地位 保育人士抗議

2012年09月05日
摘譯自2012年8月31日ENS美國,華盛頓特區報導;沈瑞筠編譯;蔡麗伶審校

黃石國家公園的一頭母狼(照片由mapledog拍攝於2011年11月)美國魚類暨野生動物管理署8月31日宣布懷俄明州的灰狼族群量已恢復,並將之移除於瀕臨絕種動物法案的聯邦保護之外。9月30日後,懷俄明州的灰狼將和愛達荷州及蒙大拿州一樣,由州政府接手管理。

9月30日自名單上刪除灰狼剛好接上懷俄明州10月1日提出的狩獵灰狼計畫。

野生物保衛者組織(Defenders of Wildlife)領導人Jamie Rappaport Clark、也是魚類暨野生動物管理署前任主管,認為這是個「悲劇性的決定」並譴責歐巴馬政府把懷俄明州的灰狼剔除出保育名單,揚言提出告訴。

「從瀕臨絕種動物法案名單中移除懷俄明州的灰狼,是為美國最成功的保育案例劃上一個悲劇性的完結。」Clark表示。「歐巴馬政府允許重要的指標物種自該州多數地區被移除,這些地區包括野生動物經營管理應被視為首要的國家森林及其他公眾土地。」

Clark表示:「這是近代野生動物保育史的低點、且是應尋求科學基礎指引的民選政府令人震驚的舉動。我們試圖和歐巴馬政府、魚類暨野生動物管理署及州政府機構合作,以建立、施行更負責任的灰狼經營管理計畫,不過我們的提案被駁回。」

「現在我們沒有選擇的餘地,只能尋求法律行動來確保懷俄明州及北落磯山脈健康、永續的灰狼族群續存。」

美國魚類暨野生動物管理署現任主管Dan Ashe以正面的措辭回應此議題。他於8月31日表示:「重新出現在北落磯山的狼群是個很成功的事蹟,並反映了州、部落及許多我們的伙伴將狼群從滅絕的邊緣復育的卓越成果。在愛達荷州及蒙大拿州的經營管理下,狼群可以維持健全的族群量,我們有信心在懷俄明州的經營管理計畫下,該州的狼族維持在可續存的數量。」

懷俄明州的狼將被規劃為全年的狩獵物種、僅在該州西北1萬5千平方英里範圍內被保護。保護範圍包括黃石國家公園、大提頓國家公園、小約翰洛克菲勒紀念大道、毗鄰的美國森林署規範的荒野保護區、毗鄰的公私有土地、國家大角鹿保護區及多數的風河(Wind River)原住民保留區。此區包括了多數該州主要適合狼棲息的環境。在懷俄明州的其他地區,狼被視為掠食性動物。

根據魚類暨野生動物管理署2011年底的資料顯示,受保護的狩獵區範圍涵蓋懷俄明州境內27對繁殖狼中的24對、48的狼群中的40個、328隻個體中的282隻狼的活動範圍。

Ashe表示懷俄明州承諾將符合法定控制標準,將狼的數量維持於管理目標值之上。州採行的經營管理架構是在該州內維持至少150隻狼並至少有15對繁殖狼。愛達荷州及蒙大拿州皆採用一樣的經營管理目標。

懷俄明州政府在它的經營管理計畫中表示,在黃石公園及風河原住民保留區外至少維持100隻狼個體及10對繁殖狼。

懷俄明州長Matt Mead於2012年5月7日簽署灰狼管理法案(Wolf Management bill),並對出席的農業及戶外運動團體致謝。「我們會見了持各種觀點的人們,並不是每個人都支持這項計畫,但這項計畫奠基於科學之上,並確保野狼將不再列於瀕危物種名單中。」Mead州長表示,「我相信這項計畫將會讓懷俄明州獲益。」

在灰狼管理法案中,州政府承諾與黃石公園及風河原住民保留區共同合作,促成全州境內(包括黃石公園及風河原住民保留區)最少維持150隻狼個體及15對繁殖狼的復育目標。

魚類暨野生動物管理署表示,現行的聯邦法律禁止在黃石國家公園、大提頓國家公園打獵。雖然未來將會開放打獵,2012年在小約翰洛克菲勒紀念大道、國家大角鹿保護區、風河原住民保留區內尚不會狩獵灰狼。

10月1日起,懷俄明州政府許可在州內西北「懷俄明戰利區(Wyoming’s Trophy Area)」區域內2012年可獵殺52隻狼。根據管理署近期資料顯示,大黃石區域內10%的狼居住在懷俄明戰利區外,在這些地區牠們會被視為掠食者獵殺,僅有少數規範限制此類行為。

柯林頓政府時期前魚類暨野生動物管理署前主管Clark 8月31日表示,「從愛達荷州及蒙大拿州的前例,我們可以看到交由州政府管理的後果並不是那麼讓人滿意。過去幾年間,前述兩州總共殺了超過500隻狼,且明年兩州將會讓打獵或設陷阱補狼更容易。現在懷俄明州在牠們州內藉由不受限制的打獵也要加入這個醜陋的行列中。」

非營利的法律事務所地球正義(Earthjustice)律師Jenny Harbine表示,懷俄明州在幾乎整個州內開放狼的狩獵季節,將會導致狼、甚至狼穴中的幼崽被獵殺。在狼「騷擾」牲畜及家畜的前提下,懷俄明州的法律允許無限制的獵殺狼,即便這些狼的行為可能是被誘導的。這樣的政策可能會導致該地狼群再一次的滅絕。這對我們第一個國家公園-黃石公園-並不是負責任的野生動物經營管理策略。」

最近官方的最小族群估計量資料顯示,北落磯山脈的狼族群量有超過1774隻成狼及超過109對繁殖狼。

管理署8月31日表示:「多數北落磯山適合(狼)的棲地已經達到長期承載力的飽和點,族群量已經連續10年超過復育目標。」

管理署期待大黃石地區狼群族群量維持在300隻個體左右,而整個北落磯山的主要族群期望長期維持在1000隻左右。」

「身為前魚類暨野生動物管理署主管、曾參與野放灰狼到黃石公園的計畫,這對我是非常難熬的一天。」Clark表示,「是該停止(我們)跟狼之間的戰爭、並保護美國的野生動物資產的時候了。美國人已經在這些在生態系扮演中要角色的動物投入太多而不該被如此草率的摧毀。」

「這種管理方式是在開倒車且讓灰狼復育倒退10年以上的作法。我們的目標應該是維持一個完整健全的灰狼族群量,而不是僅可苟延殘喘的數量。」

根據西加拿大12000隻狼族群的推算,北落磯山脈的1774隻狼群可向南擴散400英里。

Ashe表示,至少未來五年,管理署將在被除名的這三州持續監測狼群數量「以確保牠們的續存」,並保有視情況隨時將牠們放回瀕臨絕種動物法案的權利。

Conservationists Howl as Feds Drop Wyoming Wolves From Endangered List
WASHINGTON, DC, August 31, 2012 (ENS)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today declared the Wyoming population of gray wolves to be recovered and removed federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. As of September 30, wolves in Wyoming will be managed by the state as they are in Idaho and Montana.

The delisting’s September 30 activation date is in time for Wyoming’s proposed October 1 wolf hunt.

Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of Defenders of Wildlife and a former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, blamed the Obama administration for what she called a “tragic” decision and threatened a lawsuit to reverse the delisting of wolves in Wyoming.

“Today’s removal of wolves in Wyoming from the endangered species list is a tragic ending to what has otherwise been one of America’s greatest wildlife conservation success stories,” said Clark. “The Obama administration is allowing an important, iconic species to be wiped out from most of the state, including from large tracts of our national forests and other public lands where wildlife management is supposed to be a priority.”

“This is a low point in the modern history of wildlife conservation and a stunning move by an administration that vowed to be guided by sound science. We tried to work with the Obama administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies to develop and implement more responsible wolf management plans, but we were dismissed,” Clark said.

“Now we are left with no choice but to pursue legal action to ensure that a healthy, sustainable wolf population remains in Wyoming and across the Northern Rockies for many generations to come,” Clark said.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe framed the decision in positive terms. “The return of the wolf to the Northern Rocky Mountains is a major success story, and reflects the remarkable work of States, Tribes, and our many partners to bring this iconic species back from the brink of extinction,” he said today. “The wolf population has remained healthy under state management in Idaho and Montana, and we’re confident that the Wyoming population will sustain its recovery under the management plan Wyoming will implement.”

Wyoming wolves will be managed as game animals year-round or protected in about 15,000 square miles in the northwestern portion of the state, including Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, adjacent U.S. Forest Service-designated Wilderness Areas, adjacent public and private lands, the National Elk Refuge, and most of the Wind River Indian Reservation.

This area of Wyoming contains the majority of suitable wolf habitat within the state. Wolves will be designated as predatory animals in the remainder of the state.

The protected and permanent game areas include the entire home range for 24 of Wyoming’s 27 breeding pairs, 40 of Wyoming’s 48 wolf packs, and 282 of the 328 individual wolves in the state at the end of 2011, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Ashe said Wyoming has committed to meeting its statutory and regulatory standards by managing for a buffer above minimum management targets. The management framework adopted by the state is designed to maintain at least 150 wolves and 15 breeding pairs in Wyoming. This is the same management objective as was adopted by the states of Montana and Idaho, he said.

The State of Wyoming says in its Management Plan that it will commit to manage for at least 10 breeding pairs and at least 100 wolves in Wyoming outside Yellowstone National Park and the Wind River Indian Reservation.

Signing the Wolf Management bill on March 7, 2012, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead thanked all the agriculture and sportsmen groups that attended the bill signing. “We met with people from many diverse viewpoints and not everyone is in love with the plan, but it is grounded in science and ensures wolves stay off of the endangered species list,” Governor Mead said. “I believe this plan is in the best interest of Wyoming.”

Under the Wyoming Management Plan, the state is committed to coordinate with Yellowstone National Park and the Wind River Indian Reservation to contribute to the “step-down recovery target” of at least 15 breeding pairs and at least 150 wolves statewide, including YNP and WRR.

Existing Federal law prohibits hunting in Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. No wolf hunting will occur in the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, the National Elk Refuge, and the Wind River Reservation in 2012, although hunting could occur in these three areas in future years, the Fish and Wildlife Service says.

Beginning October 1, the state of Wyoming has authorized a take of 52 wolves in other portions of northwestern Wyoming’s Trophy Area in 2012. Current information from the Service indicates about 10 percent of the Greater Yellowstone Area wolf population resides outside the Trophy Game Area in Wyoming, where they have been designated as predators and can be taken with very few restrictions.

Clark, who served as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director in the Clinton Administration, said today, “We’ve already seen what state wolf management looks like in Idaho and Montana, and it isn’t pretty. Over the past year, more than 500 wolves were killed in those two states, and both are making it even easier to hunt and trap wolves next year,” she said. “Now Wyoming is entering this ugly race to the bottom with a plan to ban wolves from most of the state through unrestricted killing.”

Attorney Jenny Harbine with the nonprofit law firm Earthjustice said, “Wyoming’s open season on wolves in almost all of the state would allow aerial gunning of wolves and even killing wolf pups in their den. Wyoming law also allows unrestricted killing of wolves if they are found to be ‘harassing’ livestock or domestic animals, even if wolves are intentionally baited into the conflict. These policies could drive wolves back into local extinction. This is no way to responsibly manage wildlife on the border of Yellowstone – our nation’s first national park.

The most recent official minimum population estimate shows that the entire Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population contains more than 1,774 adult wolves and more than 109 breeding pairs.

The Service said today, “Most of the suitable habitat across the Northern Rocky Mountain region is now occupied and likely at, or above, long-term carrying capacity. This population has exceeded recovery goals for 10 consecutive years.”

The Service expects the Greater Yellowstone Area wolf population to maintain a long-term average of around 300 wolves, while the entire Northern Rocky Mountains Distinct Population Segment is expected to achieve a long-term average of around 1,000 wolves.

“As a former director of the Fish and Wildlife Service and someone who actually participated in the release of wolves into Yellowstone, it is a particularly sad day for me,” said Clark. “It’s time to end the war on wolves and start fighting to preserve America’s wildlife heritage. The American people have invested too much to see these ecologically important animals so carelessly destroyed.”

“This administration is rewinding the clock and setting wolf recovery back at least a decade based on the numbers alone. The goal should be to sustain a fully recovered wolf population, not put it right back on life support,” said Clark.

The estimated 1,774 adult Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves occupy the southernmost 400 miles of a wolf population that numbers over 12,000 wolves in western Canada.

Ashe said the Service will continue to monitor the delisted wolf populations in all three states for a minimum of five years “to ensure that they continue to sustain their recovery,” and retains authority to reinstate Endangered Species Act protections at any time “if circumstances warrant.”

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作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.