Subject: FW: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #159

      ____________________________________________________
      \       SOUTHWEST BIODIVERSITY ALERT #159          /
       \                    11-11-98                    /
        \                                              /
         \ SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY  /
          \        http://www.sw-center.org          /
           \________________________________________/

1. WILDLIFE AGENCY ADMITS FIVE GREY WOLVES KILLED BY SHOOTERS,
   BELIEVES REINTRODUCTION PROGRAM BEING SABATOGED

2. SUIT TO PROTECT 3.4 MILLION ACRES OF DESERT FROM OVERGRAZING

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

WILDLIFE AGENCY ADMITS FIVE GREY WOLVES KILLED BY
SHOOTERS, BELIEVES REINTRODUCTION PROGRAM BEING SABATOGED
After being pressured and sued to release information
about the suspicious deaths of several endangered Mexican
grey wolves, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service admitted
today that four of the wolves were shot, and a fifth
likely died because its mother was shot.

The first wolf was shot in April by Richard Humprheys. The
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refused to prosecute him even
though he clearly changed his story after learning that
self-defense is the only acceptible reason for killing an
endangered species. His claim that the wolf was charging
his family was contradicted by the forensics report which
determined the wolf was shot from the side while standing
still. After being freed from possible charges, Humphreys
and the killer of a Montana grizzly bear were the featured
speakers at an anti-enviromental gathering in Glenwood, NM.

The second wolf was shot in August, the third in October,
and the fourth last Saturday. The first wild born Mexican
grey wolf is missing and presumed dead. Its mother was one
of the murdered wolves. The agency previously claimed she
was killed by a lion, but now admits she was shot.

The Fish & Wildlife Service is likely correct that an effort
is underway to undermine the reintroduction program, but is
itself to blame for refusing to prosecute the first killing,
sending a message that killing wolves will be tolerated.
     _____________________________

SUIT TO PROTECT 3.4 MILLION ACRES OF DESERT FROM OVERGRAZING
The Southwest Center officially notified the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the
National Park Service on 11-9-98 that it will file suit
against grazing on 3.4 million acres of public lands in
southern California, northwestern Arizona, southern Nevada,
and southwestern Utah to protect the endangered desert
tortoise. The BLM and Park Service have refused to implement
mandatory plans designed to protect the tortiose from
habitat loss and stomping by cattle. The Fish & Wildlife
Service, meanwhile, has refused to require adequate
mitigation for the damage that livestock do to the fragile
desert environment. It is permitting grazing within the
tortoise's critical habitat even though its own Tortoise
Recovery Plan calls for the phasing out of all grazing
within specified critical habitat areas.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Kierán 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