At least the Florida Fish and Wildlife Department did their job and investigated the serving of lion meat on the menu in a Florida restaurant. However, it would appear that if the meat was CITES approved, then nothing further can be done. If I hear any more will keep everyone posted.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
ACISS INVESTIGATIVE REPORT Report
Report Number: FWSW08OFF5422 Report Date: 07/27/2008
Primary Information
Report Number: FWSW08OFF5422
Report Date: 07/27/2008
Type Of Report: INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
Description: OFFERING LION MEAT ON RESTAURANT MENU / SPOTO'S STEAK JOINT
Occurence From: 07/27/2008 00:00
Occurence To: 08/05/2008 00:00
Source Of Info: FWC TRACKER COMPLAINT 08-02034
Source Reliability: UNKNOWN
Dissemination Code: INVESTIGATIONS ONLY (Normal Security)
Reporting LEO: Manson, James INV2 (1136 / Investigations - Southwest / FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION COMMISSION)
Approval Status: Approved
Approved Date: 08/06/2008
Approved By: WILSON, GEORGE (1812 / Investigations - Southwest / FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION COMMISSION)
Synopsis
INVESTIGATION OF FWC TRACKER 08-02034 / OFFERING OF LION MEAT ON RESTAURANT MENU / SPOTO'S STEAK JOINT.
Address #1 - OCCURRED #1 - 1280 MAIN ST
Primary Information - 1280 MAIN ST
Address: 1280 MAIN ST, DUNEDIN, FLORIDA 34698 , UNITED STATES
Description: SPOTO'S STEAK JOINT
Subject #1 - COMPLAINANT #1 - GOSS, JANET
Primary Information - GOSS, JANET (COMPLAINANT)
Race: WHITE
Record Type: PERSON
Subject Name: GOSS, JANET
Sex: FEMALE
Juvenile: NO
Subject #2 - OTH AGY - LAW ENFORCE #1 - U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Primary Information - U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (OTH AGY - LAW ENFORCE)
Record Type: AGENCY
Subject Name: U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Juvenile: NO
Subject #3 - BUSINESS #1 - BUCKHEAD BEEF INC.
Andrew.Krause 08/06/2008
16:47 ACISS software licensed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 1 of 4
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
ACISS INVESTIGATIVE REPORT Report
Report Number: FWSW08OFF5422 Report Date: 07/27/2008
Primary Information - BUCKHEAD BEEF INC. (BUSINESS)
Record Type: BUSINESS
Subject Name: BUCKHEAD BEEF INC.
Juvenile: NO
Business Description - BUCKHEAD BEEF INC. (BUSINESS)
Business Type: RESTAURANTS
Subject #4 - BUSINESS #1 - SPOTO'S STEAK JOINT
Primary Information - SPOTO'S STEAK JOINT (BUSINESS)
Record Type: BUSINESS
Subject Name: SPOTO'S STEAK JOINT
Juvenile: NO
Subject #5 - RELATED #1 - SHARI MEATS
Primary Information - SHARI MEATS (RELATED)
Record Type: BUSINESS
Subject Name: SHARI MEATS
Juvenile: NO
Business Description - SHARI MEATS (RELATED)
Business Type: IMPORT/EXPORT
Subject #6 - LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER #1 - RIDER, JANET
Primary Information - RIDER, JANET (LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER)
Race: WHITE
Record Type: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL
Subject Name: RIDER, JANET
Sex: FEMALE
Juvenile: NO
Subject #7 - OWNER/PROPRIETOR #1 - STEWART, JIMMY
Primary Information - STEWART, JIMMY (OWNER/PROPRIETOR)
Race: WHITE
Record Type: PERSON
Subject Name: STEWART, JIMMY
Sex: MALE
Juvenile: NO
Employment Information - STEWART, JIMMY (OWNER/PROPRIETOR)
Employed: YES
Occupation: RESTAURANT OWNER / SPOTO'S
Andrew.Krause 08/06/2008
16:47 ACISS software licensed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 2 of 4
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
ACISS INVESTIGATIVE REPORT Report
Report Number: FWSW08OFF5422 Report Date: 07/27/2008
Event #1 - INVESTIGATION OF RESTAURANT
Event Information - INVESTIGATION OF RESTAURANT
Date: 07/27/2008 14:00
Description: INVESTIGATION OF RESTAURANT
Type: CASE ACTION
Synopsis - INVESTIGATION OF RESTAURANT
ON 7/27/08, I INSPECTED SPOTO'S STEAK JOINT IN DUNEDIN IN RESPONSE TO A FWC TRACKER COMPLAINT IDENTIFIED AS
08-02034. THE COMPLAINT IS IN REFERENCE TO THIS FACILITY OFFERING/SERVING LION MEAT ON ITS RESTAURANT MENU.
I MET WITH THE OWNER, JIMMY STEWART, WHO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY LION MEAT AND HAD BEEN
PURCHASED FROM BUCKHEAD BEEF INC. IN AUBURNDALE FLORIDA. I CONTACTED FWC INVESTIGATOR DARYL AMERSON
TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR AN INSPECTION AT THAT FACILITY TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE AND SUPPLIER OF THE LION
MEAT.
ONGOING.
Record Status Information
Record Origination Operator: Manson, James INV2 (1136 / Investigations - Southwest / FLORIDA FISH AND
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION)
Record Origination Date: 07/31/2008 07:05
Last Update Operator: WILSON, GEORGE (1812 / Investigations - Southwest / FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION COMMISSION)
Last Update Date: 08/06/2008 15:31
Reporting LEO Date Supervisor Date
Manson, James INV2 (1136 /
Investigations - Southwest / FLORIDA
FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
COMMISSION)
WILSON, GEORGE (1812 / Investigations
- Southwest / FLORIDA FISH AND
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
COMMISSION)
8/6/2008
Andrew.Krause 08/06/2008
16:47 ACISS software licensed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 3 of 4
On July 27, 2008, I responded to Spoto’s Steak Joint restaurant in Dunedin, Pinellas County in
reference to a FWC Tracker Complaint 08-02034 (attached). The complaint was generated by
Janet Goss via e-mail concerning the offering of Lion meat on the restaurant menu for consumption of
its patrons.
I met with Jimmy Stewart, owner of the restaurant, confirming that the restaurant had been offering
lion meat for consumption; however the restaurant was currently out of the meat. Mr. Stewart was
compliant and provided invoices of acquisition of the lion meat. The invoices identified Buckhead
Beef Inc., as the supplier of the product and located in Auburndale, Florida. Mr. Stewart also
provided USDA inspected labels.
Upon leaving the facility, I determined that there was no State law that would prohibit the preparation
and consumption of this product lawfully imported and/or processed. I directed my attention to
federal regulations that would include the following:
�� While Lion is not an endangered species, it would however require a CITES (Convention of
International Trade in Endangered Species) Permit to import into the country.
�� The Lion and/or meat would have to be declared by the U.S. importer upon entry.
�� Could there be any false labeling of the product to import into the country.
This information could be better ascertained through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, so I
contacted Special Agent Janet Rider with USFWS. I informed Agent Rider that I would inspect
Buckhead Beef (vendor of the product) to ascertain the exact acquisition and provider of the meat.
On August 4, 2008, FWC Investigator, Daryl Amerson inspected Buckhead Beef in his venue and
determined the following:
�� The Lion meat was received from a secondary vendor identified as Shari Meats in Reno,
Nevada.
�� The meat was accompanied by a CITES Permit.
On August 5, 2008, I forwarded this information to USFWS Special Agent Janet Rider to assist in
determining the above federal regulations and more conducive within her jurisdiction. In addition, I
responded to the complainant, Janet Goss, via e-mail (attached) of my investigative findings.
Final Disposition: Transferred to other agency.
Dear J. Goss,
Over the past couple weeks I have investigated your complaint/concern of the Lion meat being provided for consumption at Spoto’s Steak Joint in Dunedin, FL. While I will try to explain a brief overview of my findings; a complete investigative report can be obtained through a public records request by contacting the following:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
3900 Drane Field Road
Lakeland, FL 33811
(863) 648-3200
Case Number – FWSW08OFF5422
My investigation ascertained the following:
Spoto’s Steak Joint indeed was offering Lion meat for consumption on premises.
The Lion meat was obtained from a vendor in Auburndale, FL.
The vendor in Auburndale had received it from a secondary vendor in Reno Nevada.
The Lion meat was USDA labeled and accompanied by a CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species) Permit.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has implemented strict rules and regulations dealing with the live captivity of this species and species alike. Though FWC don’t necessarily endorse this activity; to date, there is no state law prohibiting the consumption thereof that has been imported and processed legally. In stead, we adopt federal rules and guidelines that are implemented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
A couple of the federal rules that would be applicable with this subject matter are:
Did the Lion/Lion meat enter the United States accompanied by a CITES Permit?
Did the U.S. importer declare the species to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service upon entry?
Was there any wrong doing in false labeling the species to enter the United States?
My investigative findings to date, appear that it had been accompanied by a CITES Permit. However, I have contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (20501 Independence Blvd. Groveland, FL 34736, 352-429-1037) to conclude that information beyond my jurisdiction out of state; and allowing the USFWS to take action of any violation they might ascertain.
If I can be of anymore assistance please feel free to contact me,
Sincerely,
Investigator James Manson
Investigator II - James E. Manson
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Southwest Region - Investigations Section
3900 Drane Field Road, Lakeland, Fl 33811-1299
Phone: (813) 558-5050
E-mail: james.manson@MyFWC.com
"Patrol, Protect, Preserve"
Dear Sir or Madam:
It has just come to my attention that lion meat is being served on the menu at a Dundin restaurant. At a time that lions are becoming endangered (except in the canned lioned breeding farms in South Africa where they are bred for food and/or being hunted, anything to make a buck) it is a sad state of affairs that anyone in the US is contributing to their demise in any way.
Having been on 13 trips to Kenya, I have seen the sharp decline of lions over the past seven years. The indigenous people kill them off like "vermin". Lions need someone to fight on their behalf - not put them on a plate and eaten!!!
Won't you please take action to insure that wildlife cannot be imported and cannot be used for food in this country.
I'll paste the article below for your perusal:
"A restaurant in Tampa Florida (spoto's the steak joint, dunedin, fl), is proudly offering lion meat from South Africa to attract gluttonous gourmets. Under a heading which gushes “A Taste of Untamed Delights” a food journalist from the local newspaper writes:
“The lion is farm raised in South Africa and processed in Colorado….the meat was less tender than the others and came with part of the bone, making it difficult to cut. The taste is difficult to describe, sort of a cross between pork chops and ribs.”
The article focuses on the taste of the dish, and makes no mention of an y other relevant considerations. Such as when the patrons of this Tampa restaurant order lion meat they are supporting one of the most vicious and destructive industries in the world. As such, their money goes back along the commercial food chain until it reaches the canned lion breeder in South Africa, enriching him and encouraging him to continue his grisly trade. Such as that South Africa is the world capital of canned lion breeding and hunting; that captive predators are reared under cruel conditions and then shot for sport, often with bow and arrow; that packs of dogs are often used to tree a tame hand reared lion or lioness so that bow hunters can have fun shooting arrows into their helpless victim.
Is this an industry which Florida restaurant-goers would wish to support?
To focus on the taste of the dish under these circumstance is rather like the sick old joke: “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the performance”
Treating lions as alternative livestock like this is transparently cruel. Unlike cattle and sheep, who are mostly raised on the open range and have some natural contentment before they are penned, fattened and slaughtered, lions are predators and therefore bred in enclosures. Should lions be imprisoned like battery chickens?
It is not natural and perhaps even unhealthy to eat the flesh of predators. There must be good reasons why predators do not eat other predators. Lions do not eat other lions even if they fight and kill each other and we human predators refrain from cannibalism.
As for the ethics involved, just look how far society has evolved. Two thousand years ago we used to throw Christians to the lions. Now we are so civilised that we throw lions to the Christians."
Please won't you ensure that no more wildlife will be misused in any way. Ban the importation of wildlife and tell this restaurant owner that he can no longer serve lion on the menu. It just contributes to the decline of a needed species.
Gratefully,
Janet S Goss
jgoss47063@aol.com
