Subject: FW: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #142

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      \       SOUTHWEST BIODIVERSITY ALERT #142          /
       \                    7-19-98                     /
        \                                              /
         \ SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY  /
          \__________________________________________/
         
1. ENDANGERED WOLF SHOT WHILE STANDING STILL, KILLER LINKED
   TO ANTI-ESA GROUP

2. INVITATION TO SOUTHERN ARIZONA RIPARIAN TOUR

3. GILA NATIONAL FOREST TO RAMP UP CATTLE NUMBERS-
   CALLS AND LETTERS NEEDED TODAY!

     *****     *****     *****     *****

ENDANGERED WOLF SHOT WHILE STANDING STILL, KILLER LINKED TO
ANTI-ESA GROUP
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's investigative report on the
shooting of an endangered Mexican gray wolf on the Arizona/
New Mexico border strongly suggests that the wolf was murdered.
The wolf was shot broadside through both legs while standing
still, contradicting the shooter's story that the wolf was
charging his wife when shot. The report also shows that the
shooter initially told the Arizona Department of Fish
and Game that the wolf was shot because it attacked his dog, but
changed his story after newpapers explained that it is only
legal to kill endangered species if they threaten human lives.

After the shooting, the killer visited Tucson newspapers with
members of the Safarhi Club, speaking out against the wolf
recovery program. The Safarhi Club has lobbied against protecting
endangered species from hunting. Members of have been convicted
of killing endangered species.
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INVITATION TO SOUTHERN ARIZONA RIPARIAN TOUR
The Southwest Forest Alliance and Sky Island Watch are
sponsoring tours of southern Arizona. We will visit aproximatly
ten areas in 4 or 5 different mountain ranges on the Coronado
National Forest. July 31 - Aug. 2. No charge, but space is
limited. Call David Hodges at 520-322-9819, for more information.
      _______________________________

GILA NATIONAL FOREST TO RAMP UP CATTLE NUMBERS-
CALLS AND LETTERS NEEDED TODAY!
The Gila National Forest has released draft grazing plans on 30
allotments for public comment. Although the vast majority of the
allotments contain crucial riparian habitat for threatened and
endangered species, the Forest proposes to decrease cattle on
only one allotment.  The rest will be stocked either at current
levels or higher. Two allotments will double in cattle numbers.
Even worse, the Forest is proposing to restock four allotments
which are currently empty, three of which contain threatened and
endangered species, and one that lies entirely within the Gila
Wilderness.

  The XSX ALLOTMENT, located within the heart of the Gila
  Wilderness, has been ungrazd since 1984.  The Middle and East
  fork of the Gila River flow through the XSX, supporting
  populations of the federally listed spikedace and loach minnow. 
  The Gila proposes to use the north half of
  this allotment as "relief" for other badly degraded allotments.

  The JORDAN MESA ALLOTMENT, also located within the Gila
  Wilderness, contains essential habitat along the East fork of
  the Gila River for spikedace, loach minnow, and Southwestern
  willow flycatcher. The Forest Service proposes to keep stocking
  on this badly degraded allotment at current levels, despite
  admitting that the carrying capacity of the land is half that.

  The BROCK CANYON and WATSON MOUNTAIN allotments are currently
  unstocked and leased by the Nature Conservancy.  The
  allotments, which have exhibited steady riparian and upland
  recovery since being rested from cattle, contain resident
  populations of bighorn sheep, spikedace, loach minnow, and
  Southwestern willow flycatcher. The Gila is inexplicably
  proposing to put over 30 cattle on each allotment.
  
Write, call and fax the Gila National Forest today! Tell them
to keep all cattle off these and all 30 allotments.

   Able Camerina, Gila National Forest Supervisor
           Phone 505.388.8201  Fax 505.388.8204
             3005 E. Camino del Bosque
               Silver City, NM 88061

_____________________________________________________________________________

Kieran Suckling                               ksuckling@sw-center.org
Executive Director                            520.623.5252 phone
Southwest Center for Biological Diversity     520.623.9797 fax
http://www.sw-center.org                      pob 710, tucson, az 85702-710