177 



Mr. Curie falsely claims that the "U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service successfully stopped 

 American Airlines from carrying. ..(his) bird shipments to the United States." Presently over 

 one hundred international airlines, understanding that tens of thousands of live wild birds die 

 in transport every year, have adopted policies not to transport live wild birds for the 

 commercial pet trade. These airlines do not wish to participate in a cruel trade that has had 

 significant adverse effects on the conservation of many wild avian populations. The U.S. 

 Fish and Wildlife Service was never involved in any efforts to influence the transport policies 

 of these airiines. Information on the trade was provided by a large number of non-profit 

 conservation, environmental and animal welfare organizations. These carrier restrictions 

 continue to receive wide support from the American public. 



In his letter, Mr. Curie claims that the I^S has eliminated twenty-three other bird 

 importation businesses. Mr. Saxton, many of the largest commercial importers have put 

 themselves out of business— they have been indicted, convicted or sentenced for laundering 

 protected bird species into the "legal" trade. Their profits were in the millions of dollars. 

 The trade in wild birds for pets has proven to be rife with corruption. 



Mr. Curie's letter has no relation to the U.S. Wild Bird Conservation Act and should not 

 have been submitted into the hearing record. The Act, adopted by unanimously by Congress 

 and signed into law in 1992, simply insures that U.S. imports of wild birds are both humane 

 and sustainable. We hope you will lend your support to reauthorization of this important 

 federal law without changes. 



Thank you for your attention. 

 Sincerely, (^ X 



<^^2^r4.^o<^>C2S> 



Aim Michels 



Wildlife Trade Specialist 



cc: The Honorable Henry J. Hyde 



