June 2, 2016
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has placed an almost complete ban in the commercial ivory trade. As the U.S. is one of the major importers of ivory in the world, this is great news for African elephants. It’s a start that hopefully will lead to the end of global elephant poaching.
The Humane Society of the U.S. explains that the announcement will bar the sale of ivory from African elephants across state lines and restrict commercial imports. There will be limited exceptions for interstate trade of antique items that are over 100 years old or contain a small amount of ivory.
The sale of ivory is not only cruel to elephants but supports terrorism. The sales of elephant tusks pays for smuggling of arms and humans and other criminal activities by terrorist groups.
This rule is a beginning on the road to saving not only the African elephant, but other wildlife as well.
The elephant is an intelligent and feeling animal, capable of making decisions and the ability to communicate their wishes and needs. There is a story of injured African elephants traveling many miles to reach a wildlife sanctuary for help.
