TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Charlie Crist's three appointments this week to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission show a favoritism to trophy hunting and development interests. As a result, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) implores the governor to provide balance to this important public body with future appointments.
Crist passed over recommendations from environmentalists and animal welfare organizations with his three choices this week: A member of Safari Club International, a trophy hunting industry group that advocates the competitive killing of rare species; a developer with a background as a trophy hunter; and an attorney who represents real estate and development interests.
"We have a diverse group of stakeholders in Florida, including wildlife watchers and humane advocates, and the decision-making body should not be held captive by a few special interests," said Jennifer Hobgood, Ph.D., regional coordinator for The HSUS in Tallahassee. "We ask Governor Crist, please, to live up to his slogan of being 'the people's governor' with his next appointments to the commission."
The governor's picks:
Kathy Barco, member of Safari Club International, a group that promotes the head-hunting of rare species, including captive animals at "canned hunts." Trophy hunters set their sights on the Safari Club record books, such as winning the "African Big Five," which requires a leopard, elephant, lion, rhino and buffalo. To win every Safari Club award, a hunter must kill hundreds of different species and subspecies -- enough animals to populate several small zoos.
Ronald M. Bergeron, president of the Bergeron companies, whom a South Florida Sun-Sentinel article referred to as a "real estate tycoon… who developed much of the former Everglades in Broward County." In an article Bergeron submitted with his application for the appointment to the FWC, he is portrayed with numerous animal 'trophies,' including what appear to be wolf and bear skin rugs.
Kenneth Wright, a land use attorney with Shutts & Browen LLP. An article in the July 2002 issue of Florida Trend magazine states that "Wright has long been a champion of growth and property owners' rights" and has been "at odds with environmentalists." The greatest threat to the survival of many of Florida's imperiled native wildlife species such as panthers, manatee, and gopher tortoises is habitat loss due to development.
Florida's FWC is responsible for the management of hundreds of non-game species of animals, including many that are imperiled. This seven-member body will face many major decisions for Florida's wildlife in the future, such as whether to list the gopher tortoise as a threatened species, which may impact developers; and whether to open a trophy hunting season on Florida black bears, currently the subject of a federal lawsuit over its listing under the Endangered Species Act. Safari Club International has intervened in the case to block protections for the black bear.
Gov. Crist will have another chance to fill a vacancy on the commission in January. These appointments are not final until confirmed by the Senate during the 2008 legislative session.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.
