The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has just announced a major step toward ending the ivory trade and saving elephants from ruthless poachers. New restrictions will ban nearly all African elephant ivory sales in the United States!
Under the new regulations -- proposed a year ago and finally passed -- sale of African elephant ivory will be prohibited across state lines, with the exception of antiques more than 100 years old and items containing small amounts of ivory.
This move could go a long way in preserving the African elephant. Millions of these majestic animals once roamed the wilds of Africa; now, fewer than 500,000 remain, and poachers kill as many as 50,000 African elephants every year.
African governments are fighting desperately to save the elephants -- Kenya recently burned more than $100 million worth of ivory to send a message to poachers. But other nations need to do their part by cutting off the market so this bloody trade is no longer profitable. As one of the largest ivory consumers in the world, the U.S. has a responsibility to help stop the killing.
For decades, LCA has fought for the rights of elephants with the "Elephant Sanctuaries, Not Captivity!" campaign, which focuses on banning elephants in zoos, circuses and other forms of entertainment. We applaud the U.S. government for taking action to preserve these amazing animals.
Still, the new ivory regulations are just one step in the right direction. LCA urges the government to pass a FULL ban on the ivory trade that extends to Asian elephant ivory, too.
No animal should die to make trinkets for human amusement, and LCA will continue fighting for the rights of elephants and all other species.