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STATEMENT OF RICHARD N. DENNEY, WILDLIFE FIELD 

 CONSULTANT, THE AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION 



Mr. Denney. My name is Richard Denney, a wildlife field con- 

 sultant for the American Humane Association. 



I have been working the professional wildlife field for 22 years, 18 

 of which have been in the United States and 4 years have been with 

 the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 

 East Africa. 



The press of the rapidly expanding human population throughout 

 the world has increased the demand and exploitation of the earth's 

 natural resources, both terrestrial and marine, that were previously 

 considered to be inexhaustible or little affected by man's actions. This 

 expansion of man's impact on the environment has resulted in en- 

 croachment of habitats, and tlie r^ultant effect on indigenous wild- 

 life species, that were previously of lesser concern to humanitarians, 

 but which have now moved into the province of humane interests. An 

 underlying principle of humane work is animal welfare, which not 

 only includes the obvious prevention of overt cruelty by intent, but 

 also animal suffering which may result from the acts of man, or lack 

 of action, stemming from ignorance, negligence or apathy. Man's trail 

 through the history of the world is littered with the consequences of 

 the lack of proper management — the ma:[iy wild species that have 

 been extirpated. 



Current interest is centered on marine mammals, and it is imperative 

 that the ocean animals not only be protected, but properly managed 

 based on sound biological and natural resource principles. There are 

 those among the American public who are less informed and more 

 emotional who advocate total protection only, and would allow nature 

 to take its course. This is not a realistic approach, as man's alteration 

 of the various ecosystems already makes it imperative that his con- 

 tinued influence be manifested through management to insure the 

 survival of designated species. 



Any marine mammal legislation whicli proposes protection only 

 without management is categorically untenable. A case in point is 

 the northern fur seal, CaUorhinus ursinvs, of the northern Pacific 

 Ocean and the Bering Sea, which has betm the subject of intensive 

 research and management since the inception of the North Pacific Fur 

 Seal Convention in 1911 between the United "States, Great Britain (for 

 Canada), Russia, and Japan. The success of this program through 

 international cooperation and rational management is demonstrated 

 through the increase from around 200,000 seals in 1912 to approxi- 

 mately 114 million durin^y the past 60 years. 



The terrestrial habitat requirements of the fur seal in the limited 

 and physical characteristics of the land area necessary for reproduc- 

 tion dictate that jwpulation control be an integral comiwnent of their 

 management. Because of life history traits involving social structur- 

 ing and polygamy, those animals surplus to continued breeding re- 

 quirements can be effectively harvested without disturbance to the 

 breeding population or detriment to sustaining an optimimi and 

 vigorous total population. 



Several TV programs and articles in the written media have focused 

 public attention on the northern fur seal harvest within the past year. 



