R 090852Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0331

UNCLAS WINDHOEK 000045 
 
 
DEPT FOR OES - Christine Dawson 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL SENV WA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS DEMARCHE: EXPORT PERMITS FOR CHEETAHS 
 
REF: STATE 6254 
 
¶1. This cable includes two action requests.  Please see paras 6 and 
¶7. 
 
EXPORT OF CHEETAHS 
------------------ 
 
¶2. Ambassador Mathieu delivered reftel demarche to Netumbo 
Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia's Minister of Environment and Tourism, on 
February 4.  The Ambassador explained that the U.S. considers the 
export of 14 cheetahs to be a follow-on to the export of 10 Namibian 
cheetahs to the United States in 2001.  The Ambassador outlined the 
collaborative effort and objectives of the Smithsonian's National 
Zoological Park (NZP), Cheetah Conservation Fund, and White Oak 
Conservation Center.  She stressed that all arrangements on the U.S. 
side have been addressed, including issuance of an import permit 
valid until July 2009.  It would be ideal, the Ambassador noted, if 
the cheetahs could be transported around April 2009 to avoid the 
severe change in temperature between Namibia and Virginia.  She 
asked the Minister to approve export permits soon, as that was the 
final requirement for moving forward. 
 
¶3. The Minister responded that she was "familiar with the whole 
project and request for additional cheetahs." She added, though, 
that she needed to engage in additional consultations within 
government before she would be able to provide final authorization 
for the export permits. 
 
TROPHY HUNTING 
-------------- 
 
¶4. Nandi-Ndaitwah then raised a separate issue, expressing Namibia's 
desire for a lifting of the U.S. ban on imports of black rhino and 
cheetah trophies.  The Minister noted that black rhino and cheetah 
trophies are a potentially highly lucrative segment of Namibia's 
tourism industry, which is currently dominated by German hunters. 
Namibian hunting permits can run as high as US$50,000 for black 
rhinos and US$30,000 for cheetahs, and she hoped that the lifting of 
the U.S. ban on their import would attract more American hunters to 
Namibia.  Increased competition among tourists for limited hunting 
licenses, she opined, would enable the government to auction the 
licenses and thereby generate even greater revenues.  The Minister 
recalled that she had raised this issue with the Deputy Assistant 
Director for International Affairs of the Department of Interior's 
Fish and Wildlife Services on the margins of the Hunters' Convention 
in Reno in January.  Nandi-Ndaitwah reported that her USFWS 
interlocutor had promised to follow up with a letter to the minister 
detailing the steps Namibia would need to follow to request a 
lifting of the import ban, but she had not yet received such a 
letter. 
 
¶5. Comment: Although the Minister's staff has been thoroughly 
briefed on the request for the export of the 14 cheetahs, and the 
Minister was generally aware of the issue, it appears that she is 
not yet prepared to make a decision.  We will follow up to press for 
an expeditious and positive decision.  As this matter was discussed 
at the Embassy of Namibia on October 2008 and Ambassador Nandago 
appeared supportive, post suggests that AF/S and/or NZP encourage 
Ambassador Nandago to follow up with the Minister as well. 
 
¶6. Action requested:  We would appreciate the Department following 
up with the Fish and Wildlife Service to confirm that FWS will send 
a letter (described in para. 4) to Nandi-Ndaitwah. 
 
¶7. Action requested:  The Minister plans to attend the Aspen 
Environment Forum on March 25-28 in Aspen, Colorado.  Please advise 
if FWS, NPZ or other USG entity would be interested in meeting with 
her in Washington or in Colorado to discuss any conservation or 
environmental issues.  If so, post will advise the Minister. 
 
 
MATHIEU