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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Joe Braman, a Refugio rancher and businessman, has |
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helped to protect an endangered species by working to curb the crime |
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of rhinoceros poaching in South Africa; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Braman was sought out for his dog training |
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skills by Ivan Carter, founder of the Ivan Carter Wildlife |
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Conservation Alliance, an organization that is working to address |
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the epidemic of poaching in Africa due to the illegal wildlife |
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trade; after journeying to South Africa, Mr. Braman saw firsthand |
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the carnage and suffering that have been inflicted on the country's |
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rhino population, which includes the critically endangered black |
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rhinoceros; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to his ranch in Refugio County with a new |
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sense of purpose, Mr. Braman partnered with retired K-9 handler and |
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trainer Esequiel "Zeke" Ortiz to teach a group of coonhounds how to |
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track and apprehend criminal poachers; the task went on to become |
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his full-time passion, requiring him to work with the dogs every |
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day, from the early morning hours to late at night; and |
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WHEREAS, After a year, 50 of Mr. Braman's coonhounds were |
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deemed fit for the job; the dogs, which are trained to travel in |
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packs of up to 10, are capable of detecting the scent of humans who |
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have crossed through an area several hours ago and miles away, and |
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they are fitted with GPS tracking devices for law enforcement to |
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follow once the pack locates a poacher; Mr. Braman began deploying |
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the dogs to South Africa in 2018, and their efforts have since led |
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to dozens of arrests; and |
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WHEREAS, Joe Braman has demonstrated remarkable skill, |
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dedication, and perseverance in his work to save some of our |
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planet's most magnificent and vulnerable animals from extinction, |
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and in so doing, he has shown us how the actions of one individual |
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have the power to make a difference; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Joe Braman for his contributions to |
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rhinoceros conservation efforts in South Africa and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Braman as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |