I could recognize that there needed to be some help to get the ranchers and the zoo people together. And I was uniquely situated in that I knew the ranchers and I knew the zoo people. I knew they both were good groups, and I thought that it could work. It was rather disheartening to me when it came time to apply for the first permit, three of the most prestigious zoos in North America wrote letters to the Department of Interior saying that they were opposed to this permit being granted, to bring these animals in. And they influenced the board of directors of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association to support this feeling. And the AZA did not support the importation. And I was one of the only people in support of it and wrote a letter saying that I was willing to try and work with the ranchers to make it work. And the permit was granted.
