Mongolia revokes decision to allow leopard hunting for science

English.news.cn 2011-03-23 20:45:12

ULAN BATOR, March 23 (Xinhua) — The Mongolian government had revoked a decision it made earlier this month to allow foreigners to hunt leopards for scientific purpose, local media reported Wednesday.

Mongolian Environment and Tourism Minister L. Gansukh canceled the permission to kill four leopards for scientific purpose this year, after meeting researchers and representatives of non-government organizations to discuss the issue.

The researchers opposed the decision made by the cabinet on March 2. They said genetic research and other modern technologies made it possible to do scientific research without killing the highly endangered species.

The decision to allow four leopards to be hunted incurred opposition worldwide. Snow Leopard Network, a major organization aimed at protecting the species, sent a written appeal to the government, urging it to reverse its decision.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement which entered into force in 1975 to protect wild animals and plants, has listed the snow leopard as one of species threatened with extinction which are or may be affected by trade.

Snow leopards normally live between 3,000 and 5,500 meters above sea level in the rocky mountain ranges of Central Asia. According to a survey conducted in 2009 and 2010, there are more than 1,200 leopards in Mongolia.

Editor: Fang Yang

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2011-03/23/c_13794720.htm

3 thoughts on “Mongolia revokes decision to allow leopard hunting for science”

  1. Conservationists oppose snow leopard hunt for ‘science’
    Jeremy Hance
    mongabay.com
    March 23, 2011

    Update: Mongolia has announced it will cancel the hunt of 4 snow leopards for scientific research following an outcry from conservationists.

    Well-known mammalogist and Vice President of conservation organization, Panthera, George Schaller said: “Mongolia’s decision to rescind snow leopard hunting permits is the right one for the species and the country. Minister Gansukh can legitimately and proudly claim that Mongolia remains steadfast and committed to conservation efforts for snow leopards in Asia, and for that, we congratulate them.”

    http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0323-hance_snowleopard_hunt.html

  2. MINISTER DECIDES, LEOPARDS WILL SURVIVE
    2011-03-23 17:27:45 | | Хэвлэх | Найздаа илгээх |

    Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ A Minister of environment and tourism, L.Gansukh has make a decision not to allow hunt snow leopards.

    This decision has been made after the minister’s meeting with several researchers and NGOs who assured him that a drawn by the cabinet March 2 decision to allow this year to hunt some animals–two pair of snow leopards as well–for scientific purposes is not right. They added that genetic researches and analysis are quite possible to be done without killing this animal.

    B.Oyundelger
    16.32

  3. April 3, 2011

    Mongolia revokes decision to allow leopard hunting for science

    The Mongolian government had revoked a decision it made earlier this month to allow foreigners to hunt leopards for scientific purpose, local media reported Wednesday.

    Mongolian Environment and Tourism Minister L. Gansukh cancelled the permission to kill four leopards for scientific purpose this year, after meeting researchers and representatives of non-government organizations to discuss the issue.

    The researchers opposed the decision made by the cabinet on March 2. They said genetic research and other modern technologies made it possible to do scientific research without killing the highly endangered species.

    The decision to allow four leopards to be hunted incurred opposition worldwide. Snow Leopard Network, a major organization aimed at protecting the species, sent a written appeal to the government, urging it to reverse its decision.

    The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement which entered into force in 1975 to protect wild animals and plants, has listed the snow leopard as one of species threatened with extinction which are or may be affected by trade.

    Snow leopards normally live between 3,000 and 5,500 meters above sea level in the rocky mountain ranges of Central Asia. According to a survey conducted in 2009 and 2010, there are more than 1,200 leopards in Mongolia.

    Posted by Surfbirds at April 3, 2011 8:12 AM
    http://www.surfbirds.com/sbirdsnews/archives/2011/04/mongolia_revoke.html

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