The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday it would enact a near-total ban on the trade of commercial elephant ivory in the United States.
The service completed its rulemaking process under the Endangered Species Act to limit imports, exports and sales of African elephant ivory across state lines. The move was done in accordance with a 2013 executive order from President Obama.
“Today’s bold action underscores the United States’ leadership and commitment to ending the scourge of elephant poaching and the tragic impact it’s having on wild populations,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. “We hope other nations will act quickly and decisively to stop the flow of blood ivory by implementing similar regulations, which are crucial to ensuring our grandchildren and their children know these iconic species.”
The rule does make some exceptions for the ivory trade, such as for musical instruments, furniture pieces and firearms that have less than 200 grams of ivory and meet other criteria. Antiques also are exempt from the Endangered Species Act prohibitions.
The rule limits the sale of only African elephant ivory. Ivory from other animals such as walruses, whales and hippopotamus does not have any further regulations.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the rule will help federal authorities clearly identify illegal ivory and thereby increase the effectiveness of law enforcement to stop black market sales and catch traffickers. A 2014 study found that 100,000 African elephants were killed over three years by ivory poachers.
The rule will go into effect July 6.
“Our actions close a major avenue to wildlife traffickers by removing the cover that legal ivory trade provides to the illegal trade,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe. “We still have much to do to save this species, but today is a good day for the African elephant.”
