October 10, 2006

More than $748,000 in grants designed to aid in the conservation of rhinos, elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, gibbons, sea turtles and other internationally-imperiled species were announced today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"These are species that are loved by people throughout the world and are integral parts of their ecosystems," said Service Director Dale Hall. "The United States is firmly committed to doing its part to ensure these animals remain an important part of the planet's biological landscape." Partner contributions of slightly more than $1.4 million should push the total to well over $2.2 million.

The grants, which will go to China and nations in Asia, the Caribbean and Africa as well as to partners with an expertise in various facets of international wildlife conservation, are awarded through the Fish and Wildlife Service's Wildlife Without Borders Programs and are made possible by congressional appropriations. The grants provide assistance to species that face a variety of threats, from illegal trafficking to wildlife and human conflict, habitat loss and disease.

Examples of projects and activities funded include aerial support to aid in the conservation of elephants in Kenya; providing equipment to anti-poaching scouts in Zambia to help protect African elephants; assessing tiger population, prey and habitat in China; and financing development of a field manual with recommendations for caring for sick or injured sea turtles in the Caribbean.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.