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Battle for Scimitar-Horned Oryx Airs on The High Road with Keith Warren 

INGRAM, Texas — The federal court ruling that threatens the thoughtless extinction of the scimitar-horned oryx, as well as two other exotic species and a $1.3 billion industry, is receiving national attention. Award-winning television producer and host Keith Warren is putting the spotlight on the Exotic Wildlife Association (EWA) and its fight to preserve these majestic animals in a new episode of The High Road with Keith Warren. The show will air three times during the week of July 12, 2010, on the Pursuit Channel (Direct TV 608). Last year, the EWA appealed the ruling of Federal Judge Henry Kennedy who overturned a special rule by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Department that allowed three antelope species to be born, raised and freely traded in the United States without the USFWD permitting process. Without the special rule, conservation efforts will most likely cease and the populations for the three species are expected to dramatically deminish. “The scimitar-horned oryx is a perfect example of how successful the special rules exemption has been to the species’ survival,” says Charly Seale, executive director of the Exotic Wildlife Association. “While these animals are all but gone in their native country, there are currently thousands of these amazing animals being cared for and raised on preserves and ranches across the country. Many endangered species are virtually extinct in their native lands, but are now flourishing in the United States because ranchers are able to buy, sell and breed the animals. “However, new federal regulations which are now pending could threaten the survival of these species,” adds Seale, “and could soon impact the ability to hunt other more common exotic species like Blackbuck, Axis deer, Aoudad and others. Preserving the current legal status of these species is critical to the survival of the species and our industry.” In July 2009, the judge ruled that three species — Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax, Dama Gazelle — which are born and raised in the United States, will no longer be exempted from their listing on the endangered species list and no longer freely traded without federal permits. The three species are classified as an endangered species, however, special rules enacted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2005 made it possible for owners of captive herds to purchase, sell, move and manage these animals on ranches across the United States. The program has been extremely successful, increasing the animals’ population by the thousands and adding $1.3 billion annually and thousands of jobs to the U.S. economy. The High Road airs three times a week on The Pursuit Channel (Direct TV 608), Friday at 12 a.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 8:30 p.m. Warren’s other program, Keith Warren’s Deer & Wildlife Stories also airs three times a week on the Pursuit Channel, showing on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 12 a.m. All times are EST. The EWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to leading wildlife conservation through commerce. As a part of its public education efforts, the EWA publishes a full-color bimonthly magazine, Exotic Wildlife, which updates EWA members on current legislative news and important issues impacting game management and private property rights. The EWA also hosts an annual meeting and video animal auction in March and the annual Trophy Game Records of the World Banquet in July. To learn more about the Exotic Wildlife Association or to donate to the Save Exotic Wildlife Fund, call 830.367.7761, email saveanimals@exoticwildlifeassociation.com or visit www.exoticwildlifeassociation.com. Headquartered in Ingram, Texas, the Exotic Wildlife Association is dedicated to encourage and to expand the conservation of indigenous and non-indigenous hoofstock animals, and to foster development of the alternative livestock market through agricultural diversity. For more information on EWA, call 830.367.7761 or visit www.exoticwildlifeassociation.com.