Protect African Elephants from the Ivory Trade
- by: Center for Biological Diversity
- recipient: Member countries of CITES
It is estimated that nearly 100 African elephants are slaughtered each day for their ivory. The poaching and illegal trade in ivory is driving elephant populations toward extinction.
With only about 400,000 elephants remaining in Africa, strong action is needed now to save these animals.
Join us in asking member countries of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to protect all African elephants and extinguish any possibility of legalized ivory trade.
Specifically, we, as part of an alliance of conservation groups from around the world, are asking CITES countries, at this month's meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, to adopt five proposals from the 29 African nations comprising the African Elephant Coalition to protect African elephants before it's too late.
With only about 400,000 elephants remaining in Africa, strong action is needed now to save these animals.
Join us in asking member countries of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to protect all African elephants and extinguish any possibility of legalized ivory trade.
Specifically, we, as part of an alliance of conservation groups from around the world, are asking CITES countries, at this month's meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, to adopt five proposals from the 29 African nations comprising the African Elephant Coalition to protect African elephants before it's too late.
We, as part of an alliance that includes the Animal Welfare Institute, Amboseli Trust for Elephants, Big Life Foundation, the Born Free Foundation, the Center for Biological Diversity, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, Elephant Action League, the Elephant Alliance, Elephants DC, ElephantVoices, Fondation Franz Weber, Humane Society International, International Primate Protection League, Pro Wildlife, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Society for the Conservation of Marine Mammals, Denmark, and the US Friends of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, are asking CITES parties, at this fall's 17th Conference of the Parties in Johannesburg, South Africa, to adopt the following proposals from the 29 African nations comprising the African Elephant Coalition:
1. List all African elephants on CITES Appendix I: This proposal would transfer African elephants in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to Appendix I of CITES. This would provide all elephants in Africa and Asia the highest standard of international protection by prohibiting all international commercial ivory trade.
2. Close domestic markets for elephant ivory: Under this proposal, parties would be urged to close their domestic ivory markets to reduce demand for ivory—thereby reducing incentives for poaching.
3. Destroy ivory stockpiles: This proposal sets forth guidelines for the inventory and management of government-held ivory stockpiles and would endorse their destruction—as many countries have already done—in order to send a strong message condemning the poaching of elephants.
4. End decision-making mechanism for legalizing trade in ivory: This proposal would stop any further discussion about a process to legalize the international trade in ivory. These discussions, which have been ongoing for nine years, have incentivized elephant poaching. Economists and conservationists have warned that continued discussions would lead to speculative growth in the ivory trade that could devastate remaining elephant populations.
5. Prohibit export of live African elephants: The proposal would end the export of African elephants outside of Africa, including to foreign zoos, and only allow export to other range states for protection of the animals within their natural habitat.
Sign PetitionSign Petition1. List all African elephants on CITES Appendix I: This proposal would transfer African elephants in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to Appendix I of CITES. This would provide all elephants in Africa and Asia the highest standard of international protection by prohibiting all international commercial ivory trade.
2. Close domestic markets for elephant ivory: Under this proposal, parties would be urged to close their domestic ivory markets to reduce demand for ivory—thereby reducing incentives for poaching.
3. Destroy ivory stockpiles: This proposal sets forth guidelines for the inventory and management of government-held ivory stockpiles and would endorse their destruction—as many countries have already done—in order to send a strong message condemning the poaching of elephants.
4. End decision-making mechanism for legalizing trade in ivory: This proposal would stop any further discussion about a process to legalize the international trade in ivory. These discussions, which have been ongoing for nine years, have incentivized elephant poaching. Economists and conservationists have warned that continued discussions would lead to speculative growth in the ivory trade that could devastate remaining elephant populations.
5. Prohibit export of live African elephants: The proposal would end the export of African elephants outside of Africa, including to foreign zoos, and only allow export to other range states for protection of the animals within their natural habitat.
See more petitions:
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.