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m The Peregri ne Fund 



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'§lS' WORLD CENTER FOR BIRDS OF PREY cmsmatum „i miurc . fczo-iws 





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April 25, 1995 



Mollie Beattie 



Director 



U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 



Room 3256 



1849 C Street NW 



Washington, D.C. 20240 



Dear Director Beattie: 



With this letter The Peregrine Fund wishes to provide the U. S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service with substantive comment and specific suggestions regarding the Wild Bird Conservation 

 Act (WBCA). 



The Peregrine Fund is a non-profit conservation organization working nationally and 

 internationally to conserve nature by focusing on birds of prey. We are best known for our 

 species restoration projects involving the captive propagation and release of raptors to restore 

 extirpated populations and bolster remnant populations. Nationally, we are involved with the 

 restoration of the Peregrine Falcon, Aplomado Falcon, California Condor, the 'Alala, and other 

 Hawaiian forest birds. Internationally, we are involved in species propagation and restoration 

 efforts with the Mauritius Kestrel, Philippine Eagle, Harpy Eagle, and Orange-breasted Falcon. 

 Several of these efforts are approaching a successful conclusion while others are just beginning. 



Under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), 

 Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), we continue to 

 import and export live raptors for the purposes of restoring and enhancing wild populations. 

 Working under the restrictions imposed by these acts and treaties has been problematic at best. 

 The average time required to obtain permits is eight months. These delays are apparently 

 unavoidable and have contributed to the death of wildlife and the relocation of conservation 

 projects outside of the United States. 



5666 West Flying Hawk Lane • Boise. Idaho 83709 • United Slates ot Amenc 



