May 1983 Vol VIII No. 5 Department of interior. U.S. Fish and wildlife Service Technical Bulletin Endangered Species Program, Washington, D.C. 20240 Delisting Proposed for Three Kangaroo Species The red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), sufficient to propose these actions. nomic damage from these animals eastern gray kangaroo (M. giganteus), The kangaroos were not delisted in might resort to the drastic methods used and western gray kangaroo (M. fuligino- 1981 in conjunction with the lifting of the in the past, such as the poisoning of sus), which are now listed as Threatened import ban because the Service had lin- water holes, which would have an species under the Endangered Species gering concerns about: 1) the suscepti- obvious harmful effect on kangaroos Act have been proposed for delisting bility of these animals to overexploita- and other wildlife. It should be empha- (F.R. 4/8/83). A separate proposal pub- tion; 2) the difficulty in predicting the sized that none of the Australian States lished the same day would permit the severity of damage to the populations manage their kangaroos on a sustained- continued importation into the United that could be caused by natural or yield basis for commercial profit. All of States of kangaroo hides and products human-related factors: and 3) the ade- the funds derived from the sale of kanga- even if the delisting is not approved. quacy of law enforcement capability. In roo products overseas are used to pay Kangaroos survive in large numbers, are its petition to delist, the Australian for the services of the professional considered pests in many agricultural Government provided substantial infor- shooters. If the States did not have this regions, and are managed under con- mation that these concerns may no income, they would have to turn control servation plans developed by the Aus- longer be valid. Use of improved popula- of kangaroos over to the private tralian States. tion monitoring techniques, including ranchers and farmers. aerial surveys, indicate that lifting the Background Public Comment Requested U.S. import ban in 1981 did not haveany All three species were originally listed measurable detrimental effects on the Although the 30-day public comment as Threatened in 1974, and importation overall status of the species. period on the proposal to allow con- of hides and products was prohibited at In each State where they occur, the tinued importation into the U.S. of kan- that time. These actions were taken three species of kangaroos may be garoo products expired on May 9, kbecause: 1) there was no clear evidence taken only by professional shooters who comments on the delisting proposal that the overall take was being properly work under permits issued by the from any interested agencies, organiza- monitored and regulated; 2) no reliable appropriate State wildlife agency in tions, and individuals will be accepted kangaroo population estimates were accordance with a conservation plan. until June 7,1983. All submissions, pref- available from most of the Australian Also, the Service has accepted the Aus- erably in triplicate, should be addressed States: and 3) the Australian Govern- tralian Government's assurance that its to the Associate Director—Federal ment had itself banned kangaroo States employ a sufficient number of Assistance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- exports because of its uncertainty about enforcement agents. The rate of annual vice, Washington, D.C. 20240. the situation. The listing and ban on culling rarely exceeds 10 percent of the At the request of the Animal Protec- imports into the U.S. was intended to kangaroo population, and is considered tion Institute of America, theService is remain in effect until the Australian well below the danger point for species holding a public hearing on this pro- States developed adequate conserva- like these kangaroos that are capable of posed rule on Monday, June 6, 1983, tion plans and demonstrated that com- continuous breeding throughout the beginning at 9:00 AM. The public hear- mercial trade in kangaroo products year. Without the culling of excessive ing will be held in Room 8068 Main Inte- would not jeopardize the species as a kangaroos by professional shooters, rior Department Building, 18th and 0 whole. ranchers and farmers suffering eco- Streets, NW, Washington, D.C. On April 29, 1981, the Service pub- lished a Federal Register notice acknowledging that the Australian V" -./ef- Government had met both criteria, and that improved censusing techniques had provided an estimate in excess of 32 million adult kangaroos in New South Wales, South Australia, Western Austra- lia, and Queensland. Accordingly, the import ban was lifted for a trial period of at least 2 years, although the three spe- cies remained listed as Threatened. On November 10, 1982, the Australian Government petitioned the Service to allow the continued import into the U.S. J of kangaroo products after the close of the 2-year trial period, and to remove all three species from the U.S. List of Threatened and Endangered Species. The accompanying data were judged Three kangaroo species now listed as Threatened are proposed for delisting. The Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepi- dochelys kempii) project, which is being carried out with the Mexico Secretariat of Fisheries, began April 12, and will continue through the nesting and hatch- ing season (until August). The imprint- ing of hatchlings at Padre Island National Seashore by the National Park Service and headstarting of young tur- tles at the National Marine Fisheries Ser- vice lab in Galveston, Texas, will proceed. The first litter of second generation Mexican wolves (Canis lupus baileyi) born in captivity was whelped on April 21 at the Rio Grande Zoo in Albu- querque. The litter was examined at 5 days of age, and consisted of five males and one female. It is anticipated that two more litters may be born at the other Endangered Species Program in southeast Arizona, and reported for cooperating facilities in May. regional staffers have reported the fol- duty in early April. His background in Meanwhile, the first red wolves (Canis lowing activities for the month of April: fisheries biology made him a natural rufus) born in a public display facility choice for manager of the first NWR were whelped at New Orleans' Audubon established especially for Endangered Park and Zoological Gardens on April Region 2 —Ben Robertson was fishes. The refuge will help conserve six 19. The litter's parents were both raised selected as manager of the new San Ber- native fish species in the Rio Yaqui sys- at the Red Wolf Recovery Program nadino National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) tem within Arizona and Mexico. breeding facility near Tacoma, Washington, and shipped south in fall U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service James Johnson, Acting Endangered 1980. The successful breeding in 1983 is Washington, O.C. 20240 Species Specialist. partially attributed to minor pen modifi- cations made last year in an effort to Robert A Jantzen, Director Region 3, Federal BIdg., Fort Snelling, make the wolves more comfortable in a (202-343-4717) Twin Cities, MN 55111 (612-725-3500): Ronald E. Lambertson Harvey Nelson, Regional Director; public viewing situation. Associate Director and John S. Popowski, Assistant Regional Endangered Species Program Manager Director; James M. Engel, Endangered Region 4—The ongoing review of the (202-343-4646) Species Specialist. Ozark cavefish (Amblyopsis rosae) has John L. Spinks, Chief, Region 4, Richard B. Russell Federal found this species in 13 caves in 6 coun- Office of Endangered Species ties within the States of Arkansas, Mis- (703-235-2771) BIdg., 75 Spring St., S.W., Atlanta, GA souri, and Oklahoma. The largest known Richard Robinson, Acting Chief 30303 (404-221-3583): James W. Pulliam, Federal Wildlife Permit Office Regional Director; John I. Christian, population was surveyed, resulting in an (703-235-1937) Assistant Regional Director; Alex B. estimate of 300 individuals in this cave. Clark R. Bavin, Chief, Montgomery, Endangered Species Spe- That cave population probably repre- Division of Law Enforcement cialist. sented 60 percent of the total A. rosae (202-343-9242) Region 5, Suite 700, One Gateway Center, population. The number of historic cave TECHNICAL BULLETIN STAFF Newton Corner, MA 02158 (617-965- locations for the Ozark cavefish has Clare Senecal Kearney, Editor 5100): Howard Larsen, Regional Direc- been reduced by 40 percent, according Michael Bender, Assistant Editor tor; Stephen W. Parry, Assistant Regional to our current data, with most of the loss (703-235-2407) Director; Paul Nickerson, Endangered in Missouri. The remaining populations Species Specialist. of A. rosae in Missouri are small, with Regional Offices Region 6, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal never more than four cavefish observed Region 1, Suite 1692, Lloyd 500 BIdg., Center, Denver, CO 80225 (303-234- in a cave when they are seen at all. 500 N.E. Multnomah St., Portland, OR 2209): Galen Buterbaugh, Regional 97232 (503-231-6118): Richard J. My- Director; John D. Green, Assistant A very unusual discovery of a dead shak. Regional Director; William F. Regional Director; Don Rodgers, Endan- bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Shake, Assistant Regional Director, gered Species Specialist. in an active nest near Lake Tohopekal- Sanford R. Wilbur, Endangered Species Region 7, 1101 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, iga was made by Florida eagle Specialist. AK 99503 (907-276-3800, ext. 495): Keith researcher and rehabilitator Doris Region 2, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, M. Schreiner, Regional Director; Jon Magor during an aerial survey in early NM 87103 (506-766-2321); Michael J. Nelson, Assistant Regional Director; March. With the help of the AAA Tree Spear, Regional Director; Conrad A. Dennis Money, Endangered Species Service, Magor and FWS Special Agent Fjetland, Assistant Regional Director; Specialist. Vance Eaddy recovered the carcass and submitted it for necropsy.