On March 29th, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the finalization of a rule aimed at enhancing the conservation and protection measures for African elephants imported into the United States.
In a news release, the agency stated that the rule change on Friday aims to enhance the protection of live African elephants in international trade. It also seeks to increase transparency in the permit decision-making process of the Service and bring U.S. requirements in line with guidance from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Fauna and Flora.
“The collaborative conservation of wildlife all around the world is highly valued by the Service, and we are dedicated to enhancing the enforcement of international conservation law,” stated Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Countries that import elephants to the United States must now enact laws that promote conservation and protection measures. These laws should specifically prohibit illegal trade and ensure that the import of live elephants and “trophies” is in line with conservation efforts and does not contribute to the decline of the species.
Facilities in the United States must be equipped to house and care for elephants when they arrive.
Lastly, the rule provides further clarification on import regulations for sport hunting and the requirements for obtaining permits.
In 2017, the Trump administration decided to lift a ban that was imposed during the Obama era, which prohibited the import of endangered elephant remains from Africa. This move occurred as part of a series of actions taken by the Biden administration to rectify various policy reversals related to animal conservation that took place under the Trump administration.
According to Williams, our actions today will play a crucial role in supporting the efforts of range countries to manage and conserve African elephant populations, as well as protecting those elephants that are imported to the United States. Williams expressed optimism that this final rule, along with ongoing partnerships with range countries, will ensure the long-term sustainability of wild African elephant populations.
According to the agency, the population of wild African elephants has drastically declined from approximately 26 million at the end of the 18th century to an estimated 415,000.
