In an unconscionable move, Anna Seidman — a former lawyer for the trophy hunting group Safari Club International (SCI) — has been appointed assistant director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) International Affairs program.
Seidman has sued the FWS a number of times during her 20-year tenure as litigator for SCI, an organization which successfully lobbied to revoke the ban on importing elephant body parts as hunting “trophies” from Africa.
In her new role, Seidman, who replaced Eric Alvarez, will head a team focused on protecting endangered wildlife and enforcing conservation pacts worldwide. This is in sharp contrast to her lengthy employment at SCI, where, as Director of Legal Advocacy and International Affairs, Seidman fought against legislation aimed at protecting wildlife, including a 2015 regulation that banned aggressive methods of predator control in national preserves and refuges — specifically in Alaska.
A spokesperson from the FWS confirmed the engagement to HuffPost, citing Seidman as “an effective, innovative leader with 20 years of legal and policy experience, including expertise in international environment and natural resource management.”
This appointment could potentially have far-reaching negative implications for the protection of wildlife. To voice your concern, contact Chief Officer of Public Affairs for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gavin Shire at [email protected].
Please, someone, insure the safety of these animals. Mankind will reap what he sows and he is a malicious character.
I would really like to know how this appointment can be in any way justified. How blatant and ridiculous that a pro trophy hunting advocate would be appointed to a position of trust over our environment and the wildlife who live there. This is egregious to the point of criminal. How dare you take our tax dollars to pay the salary of a fox to guard the hen house. Pathetic!
filling the swamp with the worst thugs he can find.
A trophy hunter protecting
Wildlife?
You cannot be serious…. Dracula in charge of the Blood Bank? This person cannot have an unbiased view if they are pro-hunting….that’s an obvious conflict of interest, compounded by their professional propensity for advocating the destruction of living beings. I fail to see how this person can claim ” environment and natural resource management” when they’ve been associated with the demise of one of the most intelligent and compassionate animals on Earth. You know who else keeps trophies of their victims? Serial killers. The actions of those sho think and act in that manner can NEVER be explained away as being “fair and reasonable” and neither can the appointment of Ms Seidman.
Right On, Debi !
Good comment! The so-called “civilized” world has a tendency to “manage” animals with bullets (as with the buffalo in Yellowstone, which has gone on under every administration for decades) or traps or poison. That’s the arrogance of civilization, Native Americans would say of the white man, who presumes to have the godly authority to decide which animal can be allowed to live and which must die to make room for farming or ranching or to accommodate hunters or urban sprawl.
It has been going on ever since the stranger from Europe landed on the eastern shores.
This woman, Anna Seidman, is not the person for this role and must be removed – from the face of the earh. Everyone involved in her appointment must be removed from office also.
FIRE THIS WOMAN IMMEDIATELY!! SHE HAS NO QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION! WE NEED AN ANIMAL LOVER,NOT SOME DAMNED TROPHY HUNTER!!!
Ludicrous appointment. Akin to putting a paedophile in charge of a school!
Ludicrous appointment. Akin to putting a paedophile in charge of a school!
A case of “fox in charge of the henhouse”. Her prior employment is in direct conflict with her new role.
A trophy-hunting defender has been put in charge of a team which aims to protect endangered species and enforce global conservation agreements. Surely this must be a plot from a satirical movie?
Absolutely incomprehensible! Who lobbied? How much was paid? This is disgusting and as crooked as can be. Trophy hunters are amongst the lowest life forms on this planet. Complete narcissists with a sense of entitlement that is only understood by those of the same despicable calibre. Hiding behind a gun to murder majestic creatures that are already endangered to then pose with creatures, that could and should crush them like the vermin they are, as if they have accomplished something valiant. The pro trophy hunter advocate as well as those who appoints them is as despicable and guilty by proxy. SHAME ON YOU!
Isn’t that an oxi- moron!
I can just bloody well imagine whose idea it was to appoint Anna Siedman as assistant director of the FWs International Affairs Program. This is a real disappointment to a lot of good, kind, and decent people who care about the well being and the lives of all of the animals on this planet Earth .
The USA has become the nightmare and laughing stock of the World since *Trump* the want to be dictator showed up. Sad and pathetic. Are you all ashamed?????
The only humane way to shoot wildlife is with a camera. A humane “trophy hunter” only collects a picture. The worth of a person can be judged by how one treats animals. An evil person is cruel to, abuses, or kills animals. A good person cares for and respects animals. “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
“Sport hunting’ is a sickness, a perversion and a danger and should be recognized as such. People who get their amusement from hunting and killing defenseless animals can only be suffering from a mental disorder. In a world with boundless opportunities for amusement, it’s detestable that anyone would choose to get thrills from killing others who ask for nothing from life but the chance to remain alive.” – Sir Roger Moore (seven times James Bond).
Trophy hunting and poaching needs to be illegal and a felony offense. Or, as an alternative, trophy hunters and poachers can hunt each other – more challenging prey. It would be a win-win-win, getting rid of some evil monsters, helping the planet, reducing the population a little, and saving innocent animals, and maybe even preventing some of these bloodthirsty monsters from killing innocent people also.
Studies have shown that 70% or more of those who abuse or kill animals, move on to abusing, harming, or even killing people. Animals exhibit more humanity than many or most people. They don’t murder for pleasure and trophies, and don’t set cruel snares, often baited, which cause painful deaths to wildlife and pets alike. The lead ammunition does further environmental damage often poisoning endangered species such as condors and eagles, and entering the water and food chain.
Poaching should be punished with the death penalty.
Funding conservation from hunting is a sick insane paradox, not unlike paying for women’s health with donations from rapists and sex abusers.
This appointment is a travesty of Justice for the great and small creatures of our Lands. They need to be protected from HER..not thrown out to die. I OPPOSE HER APPOINTMENT 😡😡😡
This appointment is a travesty of Justice for the great and small creatures of our Lands. They need to be protected from HER..not thrown out to die. I OPPOSE HER APPOINTMENT 😡😡😡