New regulations in the United States seek to save African elephants from the illegal trade

Government United State Recently published a standard that seeks to improve conservation African elephants By increasing protection for filet fish imported into the country.

This measure, which strengthens protection and conservation requirements, aims to ensure the long-term conservation and survival of African elephants in their natural habitat and to amend regulations relating to the African elephant under Section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act.

One of the measures identified under this rule includes supporting countries that import elephants into the United States to implement national legislation to improve elephant conservation and protection, including sanctions against the illegal trade. Likewise, authorized imports of trophies and live specimens are required to contribute positively to the conservation of the species and not encourage its decline.

the authorities US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published the aforementioned regulations on March 29. “Our actions today will help support range countries’ efforts to manage and conserve African elephant populations and provide greater protection for elephants imported into the United States,” said FWS Director Martha Williams.

With this base, and continued joint efforts with other countries, Williams said he is optimistic that wild African elephant populations “will be sustainable into the future.”

This action amends regulations under Section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act and seeks to strengthen protections for internationally traded live elephants, and also aims to “increase transparency” in the FWS's permit decision-making process.

In addition, US requirements will be “more closely aligned” with the guidelines Convention on International Trade in Endangered Fauna and Flora (CITES) which, according to the FWS, is an agreement of 184 parties, including 183 countries and the European Union, responsible for making trade in species legal, sustainable and traceable through appropriate regulation and oversight systems.

FWS determines that the rule will benefit elephants through the following points:

• Support countries that import elephants to the United States by adopting “essential” national legislation to improve elephant conservation and protection.
• Ask certified importers of trophies and live elephants to contribute to the conservation of the species and not its decline
• Ensure that live African elephants have “robust” protections once they enter the United States, including requiring that only specimens and their offspring arrive at facilities “adequately equipped” to house them and ensure their care.
• Finally, sport fishing import regulations and permit requirements need to be clarified to increase transparency with stakeholders.

The number of African elephants in the wild has seen a dramatic decline, going from about 26 million at the end of the 18th century to about 415,000 today, according to the FWS.

Pachyderm fish face “numerous” threats, including habitat loss and degradation, poaching for ivory, and “retaliatory killing” due to “human-wildlife conflict.”

“Well-managed hunting programs provide some African elephant group countries with the opportunity to generate significant conservation funds, including habitat protection, population monitoring, wildlife management programs, and human conflict mitigation efforts.” “Natural and law enforcement efforts,” FWS authorities noted in the statement.

Under the new rule, these countries will have to submit annual certification on the management and condition of their elephants and hunting programs in order to export African elephant trophies to the United States.