The rule substantially limits imports, exports and sales of African elephant ivory across state lines.
We commend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for instituting a near-total ban on the domestic commercial trade of African elephant ivory.
This is welcome news as poaching, trafficking, and exploitation cause a myriad of issues for elephants in the wild and for those trying to protect them.
The USFWS stated, “wildlife trafficking reduces the economic, social and environmental benefits of wildlife while generating billions of dollars for organized criminal enterprises, contributing to an illegal economy, fueling instability and undermining security.”
The announcement is a huge victory for elephants and sends a resounding message around the world that we must commit globally to ending the cruel and illegal ivory trade.
The ivory trade continues to cause elephants to suffer and die at an alarming rate.
According to the USFWS, over a recent three-year period, an estimated 100,000 elephants were killed for their ivory. An average of approximately one elephant was killed every 15 minutes.
In 2008, National Geographic named the U.S. the second largest retail market for elephant ivory products behind China.
Related: Elephants are also at risk from being sold to cruel tourist attractions
We applaud the Obama Administration's leadership in using all the tools available to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and its commitment to solving this crisis as a top-level priority.
According to the USFWS, over a recent three-year period, an estimated 100,000 elephants were killed for their ivory. An average of approximately one elephant was killed every 15 minutes.