Target: Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior
Goal: Praise the completion of a near-total ivory ban in the U.S. that will combat trafficking and help conservation.
The U.S. government has announced a near-total ban on the commercial trade of African elephant ivory, and these new regulations will make a huge difference in restricting illegal wildlife trafficking. Numerous activists and wildlife conservationists spoke out in support of the law when it was initially proposed, and a petition published on ForceChange urged animal lovers to participate during the public comment stage. Now, with the new regulations set to take effect in July, we can hope to see the ivory trade significantly diminished.
Poachers kill approximately 30,000 elephants a year in order to keep up with the international demand for ivory, according to National Geographic. Studies have shown that the U.S. is one of the largest consumers, second only to China. The announcement of the new ivory ban fulfills the U.S. government’s side of an agreement with China that each nation will restrict its domestic ivory trade, as well as marking a significant step in President Obama’s 2013 Executive Order on Combating Wildlife Trafficking.
The new regulations will substantially limit imports, exports and sales of elephant ivory across state lines. Trophy imports will also be limited to two per year, whereas hunters are currently able to import an unlimited amount. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, these new rules will help law enforcement to easily recognize attempts to trade illegal ivory under the guise of a legal product. This near-total ban marks a monumental victory in the fight to protect elephants from extinction. Sign the petition below to applaud the U.S. government for taking action to fight against elephant poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Jewell,
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced a near-total ivory ban that will soon take effect in the U.S. These new regulations will make a significant difference in restricting illegal wildlife trafficking by limiting imports, exports and sales of elephant ivory across state lines. Furthermore, the ban will help law enforcement to differentiate between legal and illegal ivory products.
An estimated 30,000 elephants are killed by poachers each year in order to keep up with the international demand for ivory, and the U.S. is one of the largest consumers. The new ivory ban will not only fulfill the U.S. government’s agreement with China to restrict domestic ivory trade, it will also build upon efforts put in place by the Obama administration’s Executive Order on Combating Wildlife Trafficking.
We, the undersigned, would like to applaud your efforts to fight the illegal wildlife trade and combat elephant poaching. Thank you for taking action to protect elephant populations from the devastating impact of the ivory trade.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: William Warby
I think ivory should be banned totally. There is nothing that we absolutely need ivory for. It needs to stop.
Signed & Shared. ?
This is a good start. But the REAL culprits in the ivory trade are the Asian countries – not the USA.