Help protect African Elephants!
- by: Humane Society Legislative Fund - Dog Import Rule
- recipient: Mary Cogliano, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
African elephant populations are in steep decline, and we must act fast to ensure their survival in the wild. Thankfully, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed new Endangered Species Act regulations to better regulate the importation of African elephants and their parts into the U.S. and it's imperative that they hear from YOU that you support this important change.
We don't have a moment to lose if we want to save African elephants from extinction—just last year, the very rare forest elephant was classified by scientists as Critically Endangered, having declined by 62% between 2002 and 2011. The savannah elephant was classified as Endangered, having declined by 30% between 2006 and 2016. Given the deteriorating conservation status of both African elephant species, we're glad FWS is taking the right steps towards protecting these majestic creatures in the wild.
Dear Ms. Cogliano,
I am writing to urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to finalize the Revision to the Section 4(d) Rule for the African Elephant to put in place additional needed protections for African elephants. While I do not support any African elephant trophies coming into the U.S., I support the language in the proposed rule to strengthen the import permit requirements, and housing and care requirements for live African elephants. I further urge the Fish and Wildlife Service to include any necessary provisions needed to further strengthen this rule to ensure that African Elephant populations are protected and that the U.S. import process does not contribute to their declining populations.
African elephant populations are in steep decline. Just last year, the very rare forest elephant was classified by scientists as Critically Endangered, having declined by 62% between 2002 and 2011. The savannah elephant was classified as Endangered, having declined by 30% between 2006 and 2016. Given the deteriorating conservation status of both African elephant species, live African elephants, African elephant hunting trophies, and other African elephant parts need stronger regulations to stop populations from declining further.
A number of the countries exporting such trophies to the U.S. consistently fail to provide convincing science-based evidence in support of their hunting quotas and reliable information on trophy hunting revenues. Due to the lack of evidence that sport-hunted trophies enhance the conservation of the species, African elephants should not be imported into the country under the Endangered Species Act; however, if they are, this rule is necessary to increase protections under the importing process.
I urge the FWS to swiftly strengthen and finalize this proposed rule to help ensure that African elephants are thriving in the wild for generations to come.
Thank you.
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