Reasons why the Federal Government, USDA, considers the EINP elk herd unsafe for importation into U.S.:
"CFIA could not certify that the herd of origin is tuberculosis negative"
"the elk did not meet requirements for continuous records of animal identification from time of birth until export."
Reasons why the State Government, TDA, considers the EINP elk herd unsafe for importation into TN:
"CFIA could not certify that the herd of origin is tuberculosis negative"
The EINP herd is not enrolled in an approved CWD monitoring program and has not properly monitored, identified and inventoried all of its herd animals over the past five years.
CWD has been diagnosed in wildlife about 100 miles from the herd and is possibly in the EINP herd and not yet diagnosed due to insufficient testing and poor record keeping.
Reasons why State Government, TWRA, considers the EINP elk herd unsafe for importation into TN:
CWD has been diagnosed in wildlife about 100 miles from the herd and is possibly in the EINP herd and not yet diagnosed. Any hunter who killed a deer or elk in this area and who brought the carcass to TN would be fined and the carcass would be confiscated and would need to be burned at a temperature of about 1800 degrees to destroy any infected prions.
It seems strange to any sensible person that TWRA would fine an individual for bringing a carcass from this area into TN and yet TWRA, TWF and TWRC all wanted to bring 250 to 300 live elk from this same area and release them in TN to roam where ever they please, over a large and unrestricted area, coming in contact with wildlife and livestock and putting them all at risk for several different diseases. Of coarse they stood to make millions and millions of dollars on the scheme if they had been able to circumvent the laws of this Country again and if they had been able to push their elk lottery scheme through the Legislative System but that does not excuse their reckless actions and willingness to sacrifice TN's wildlife and livestock just to increase their revenue.
