Protect Human Rights & African Wildlife Management
Senate Bill 2814 in the State of New York is the "Big Five African Trophies act" that seeks to ban the importation and possession of certain species. It adds new provisions which specifically prohibits the import, possession, sale or transportation of any of the "big five African species" and give any law enforcement officer authority to enforce this prohibition. The following animals are included: African Elephant, Leopard, Lion, Black and White Rhino, and Giraffe.
From SCI: This legislation, introduced by Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda (D), goes against decades of scientific research that has been compiled by wildlife experts in African nations, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the U.S. Government, and Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, among others. That research reveals that hunting generates incentives that protect habitat, reduce poaching, provide revenue for social services and infrastructure, and encourage local stakeholders to participate in the conservation of these species.
It is well documented that the largest populations of lions, elephants, leopards, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and many other species live in countries where highly regulated hunting exists. In Africa in 1895, there were fewer than 100 white rhinos. Today, according to the IUCN, there are an estimated 18,000 white rhinos, due largely to hunting programs and the conservation efforts associated with them. Similarly, sustainable, regulated hunting programs are responsible for increasing the number of black rhinos from approximately 1,000 in the 1890s to more than 5,000 today. The IUCN reports that importation restrictions on species like the African elephant, black rhino, white rhino, and lion "could likely cause serious declines of populations."
Special Thanks To Blood Origins & SCI for issue and email content.
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