Washington, D.C. — Born Free USA, a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, commends Hawaii Senator Will Espero (D-19) for introducing S.B. 674, which roughly represents the number of elephants killed every week due to poaching for their tusks, and Representative Karl Rhoads (D-29) for introducing H.B. 837, to prohibit the brutal trade in ivory and rhino horn. The U.S. is the second largest ivory consumer in the world, with New York, California, and Hawaii the country’s largest markets for ivory. Illegal trafficking of these wildlife products is directly responsible for shocking declines in wild populations in recent years, and the bill is a crucial step toward reducing the target market. [teaserbreak]
According to Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and the Born Free Foundation, “The elephant poaching epidemic across Africa has reached crisis levels and rhino poaching is escalating exponentially. Unfortunately, the U.S. is the second largest ivory market in the world, and Hawaii is the third largest market for ivory in the states. We are thankful for Senator Espero and Representative Rhoads’ leadership on this bill, which is a crucial part of ending the slaughter.”
The House bill will be heard today, February 9 at 10:00 am before the House, Water, and Land Committee. The Senate version of the bill will be heard Thursday, February 12 at 2:45 pm in front of the Senate Energy and Environmental Committee. Born Free USA is supporting a Humane Lobby Day sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States on Friday, February 13 from 10:30 am-3:30 pm where constituents and activists can meet with elected officials about the ivory bill and other compassionate legislation.
Comprehensive legislation addressing the ivory trade is vital, as any domestic market provides cover for illegal, fraudulent ivory sales. According to Inga Gibson, Hawaii Senior State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, “HSUS’s report from 2008 shows that 89 percent of ivory for sale is from unknown or likely illegal origin.”
Born Free USA reports that the elephant poaching threat has become increasingly severe over the past several years. It is estimated that an average of 96 elephants are slaughtered daily by poachers, and more than 103,000 have been killed since January 2012, according to bloodyivory.org.
“If the killing rate continues, certain African elephant populations could be extinct within a decade,” explains Roberts. “As proven in our Born Free USA reports, Ivory’s Curse and Out of Africa, illegal ivory trafficking is exploited by transnational criminal networks that enable terrorism, weapons, and human trafficking, feeding devastating violence and instability in Africa.”
Senator Espero said, “It is sad and disheartening that magnificent animals may be driven to extinction in our time due to greed and false information. We must do all that we can to save these elephants and rhinos and create a world where they can live without the fear of being slaughtered. It is the right and proper thing to do.”
Additionally, both black and white rhinos in Africa are in serious danger due to poaching. The market for their horns is fueling the slaughter of more than 1,000 rhinos per year in South Africa alone. Only 25,000 black and white rhinos remain across all of Africa, and they could become extinct in the wild in as little as 12 years. The horns, made of a substance akin to fingernails, are used by unwitting consumers who falsely believe in their medicinal application, despite conclusive evidence that they have no curative properties.
Born Free USA is urging swift action on this important bill in the Hawaii legislature.
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation” — the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa, and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
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