Was watching with little interest to Obamas speech in Kenya and the talk of increased Ivory bans came up as well how great the import bans are working. Was a bit disheartening to hear all the PC dribble. Then Kenyatta got an earful about gay rights from the anointed one. All in all it ties into the current malaise in the African hunting industry with these types at the helm. Lets hope for some positive changes

I was kinda hoping Boko Hurum would help with that positive change on this trip to Kenya.

The only thing I could see Kenyatta and BoBo agreeing on is their misguided approach to hunting in general and elephant hunting in particular. Kenyatta may be a socialist, but that's the only thing he has in common with BoBo, other than their birthplace.

I'd like to observe a "gay marriage" in Kenya -- from a distance (out of rifle range). Let's talk immigration, oy vey!.

hehehe

quote:

Originally posted by The Artistry of Wildlife:
I was kinda hoping Boko Hurum would help with that positive change on this trip to Kenya.

I think he lost his audience on the gay rights tirade

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
The only thing I could see Kenyatta and BoBo agreeing on is their misguided approach to hunting in general and elephant hunting in particular. Kenyatta may be a socialist, but that's the only thing he has in common with BoBo, other than their birthplace.

I'd like to observe a "gay marriage" in Kenya -- from a distance (out of rifle range). Let's talk immigration, oy vey!.

Yep, they will kill a suspected homo in the streets, and the police won't arrest a single person.

http://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNe...F00-5B8634931E12B0C7



Press Release

Amid Poaching Crisis, President Obama Announces Proposal to Tighten Controls on Domestic Ivory Trade
Poachers currently kill, on average, one elephant every 15 minutes to fuel global black market, decimating populations, threatening African elephant with extinction

July 25, 2015

Contact(s):
Jessica Kershaw (Interior), Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

Gavin Shire (FWS), gavin_shire@fws.gov


WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to a growing poaching crisis that is rapidly pushing populations of African elephants, rhinos and other species to the brink of extinction, President Obama today announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing new regulations that would prohibit most interstate commerce in African elephant ivory and further restrict commercial exports. This action, combined with others FWS has already taken, will result in a near total ban on the domestic commercial trade of African elephant ivory. The proposed rule builds upon restrictions put in place last year following President Obama’s Executive Order on combating wildlife trafficking.

The proposed rule follows U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell’s trip to China and Vietnam earlier this month to meet with senior government officials in both countries to build international cooperation to combat wildlife trafficking. In June, FWS held the second “Ivory Crush” in New York City’s Times Square, at which an industrial rock crusher destroyed more than one ton of confiscated ivory. In November 2013, FWS crushed six tons of seized ivory in Denver, inspiring nine other countries to follow suit with their own ivory stock destructions.

“If our children – and their grandchildren – are to grow up in a world where they appreciate their natural heritage and can see elephants in the wild and not just in the history books, then we owe it to them to shut down avenues that motivate poachers to go after these iconic animals,” said Jewell, who serves as co-chair of the President’s Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking. “As we work to put the brakes on poaching and prevent elephants from going extinct in the wild, we need to take the lead in a global effort to shut down domestic markets for illegal ivory. Today, we are making it harder for criminals by further shutting the door to the American market.”

“The United States is among the world’s largest consumers of wildlife, both legal and illegal,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “We want to ensure our nation is not contributing to the scourge of poaching that is decimating elephant populations across Africa.”

An estimated 100,000 elephants were killed for their ivory between 2010 and 2012, an average of approximately one every 15 minutes. The carcasses of illegally killed elephants now litter some of Africa’s premiere parks. Elephants are under threat even in areas that were once thought to be safe havens.

As stated in the President’s July 2013 Executive Order, wildlife trafficking reduces the economic, social and environmental benefits of wildlife while generating billions of dollars in illicit revenues each year, contributing to an illegal economy, fueling instability and undermining security.

Federal law enforcement investigations have demonstrated that wildlife traffickers are exploiting current regulations providing for legal trade in ivory as cover for trade in illegal ivory. In one particularly high-profile investigation, FWS special agents seized more than one ton of elephant ivory – the largest seizure in U.S. history – from a Philadelphia art store owner. Much of the seized ivory, though disguised to look old, had been newly acquired from elephants poached in central Africa. Earlier this year, the owner of a seemingly legitimate Florida fine art auction house pleaded guilty to a wildlife trafficking and smuggling conspiracy involving objects made from elephant ivory, rhino horn and coral.

“By tightening domestic controls on trade in elephant ivory and allowing only very narrow exceptions, we will close existing avenues that are exploited by traffickers and address ivory trade that poses a threat to elephants in the wild,” said Ashe. “Federal law enforcement agents will have clearer lines by which to demarcate legal from illegal trade.”

The proposed revisions to the African elephant rule under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) would prohibit most interstate commerce (sales across state lines) in African elephant ivory and would further restrict commercial exports.

During the last year, FWS consulted extensively with groups that may be impacted by new trade controls for ivory, including professional musicians, antique dealers and collectors, and museum curators, among others.

Based on consideration of the input from those groups and a multitude of others, the proposed rule prohibits interstate commerce in ivory, with specific, limited exceptions for certain pre-existing manufactured items such as musical instruments, furniture pieces, and firearms that contain less than 200 grams of ivory. FWS recognizes that legal trade in these items does not contribute to the current poaching crisis.

“We listened carefully to concerns raised by various stakeholder groups and have developed a proposed rule that will allow continued trade in certain items containing ivory that meet very specific criteria,” Ashe said.

Antiques, as defined under the ESA, are also exempt from its prohibitions.

For more information on the proposed ivory rule, please see http://www.fws.gov/internation...proposed-changes.pdf .

The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on July 29, 2015 and be open for public comment for 60 days. FWS will review and consider all comments received by September 28, 2015 before publishing a final rule. Please go to www.regulations.gov, docket no. FWS–HQ–IA–2013–0091.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/. Connect with our Facebook page, follow our tweets, watch our YouTube Channel and download photos from our Flickr page.

Another bullshit announcement that has absolutely nothing to do with saving the elephants.
When will these idiots wake up and actually do something useful against poaching???

They are awake. They just want to punish us to feel good. They have no intention of acting on the truth. They know the truth but choose to ignore and remain blissfully ignorant. Much the same way the majority of Americans do when it is time to choose freedom over enslavement.

There is no domestic ivory trade. Guess Bobo already was successful in stopping it.

What if the UN did something useful for a change and supported anti-poaching financially..?

But thats too much to expect from this organistion of nitwits...

quote:

Originally posted by Pondoro:
What if the UN did something useful for a change and supported anti-poaching financially..?

But thats too much to expect from this organistion of nitwits...

Local politicians wouldn't allow it, or would ensure that it was ineffective, for obvious reasons.

I can't believe the idiots that are running these "modern" countries

Although by sources close to US fish and Game indicate the "decision" has most likely already been made to proceed with an "Executive order" on this "regulation"-

I would still encourage all concerned to comment prior to the 28 Sept deadline-

quote:

The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on July 29, 2015 and be open for public comment for 60 days. FWS will review and consider all comments received by September 28, 2015 before publishing a final rule. Please go to www.regulations.gov, docket no. FWS–HQ–IA–2013–0091.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireS...trafficking-32783733



UN Adopts Resolution to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trafficking

UNITED NATIONS — Jul 30, 2015, 2:27 PM ET
By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press
Associated Press


The U.N. General Assembly unanimously adopted its first-ever resolution aimed at combatting illicit trafficking in wildlife on Thursday as its sponsors expressed outrage at the killing of a beloved protected lion in Zimbabwe.

The resolution, approved by consensus by the 193-member world body, is not legally binding. But its universal support reflects growing global opposition to the escalating poaching and trafficking, especially in elephant and rhinoceros horns, but also in other wild animals and plants.

It follows recent commitments by the United States and China, the world's top market for illegal ivory, to end commercial ivory trading.

The resolution, sponsored by Gabon and Germany and co-sponsored by over 70 countries, urges all nations "to take decisive steps at the national level to prevent, combat and eradicate the illegal trade in wildlife, on both the supply and demand sides."

The assembly said this should include strengthening legislation to prevent, investigate and prosecute illegal trading and called on all countries to make illicit trafficking involving organized criminal groups "a serious crime."

Gabon's Foreign Minister Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet praised the adoption of the resolution, which is the product of more than two years of negotiations, as "a historic step."

Germany's U.N. Ambassador Harald Braun told reporters that illegal trafficking in wildlife has become a huge global business and the money made from it is now a leading source of financing terrorism around the world.

"A pound of rhino horn today yields more than a pound of gold" on the black market, Braun said. "And the tusks of a hundred thousand elephants that were poached last year ... (represent) an enormous economic value," but still only a fraction of the value of living elephants for tourism and the economy of many African countries.

The sponsors were asked whether the resolution would have done anything to help save Cecil, the African lion that was reportedly lured out of a protected area and shot by an American hunter earlier this month.

"I think like most people in the world we are outraged at what happened to this poor lion," Braun said. "Hunting activities are partly legal, partly illegal. It is this resolution which fights all the illegal aspects of it."

Issoze-Ngondet called the killing "a matter of deep concern for all countries in Africa" but said it was difficult to comment because Zimbabwe is conducting an investigation. He urged immediate implementation of the resolution to tackle "poaching, illegal trade and illegal killing of these kind of animals."

Leigh Henry, a senior policy adviser at the World Wildlife Fund said the resolution "sends a powerful message from the highest possible level ... that wildlife crime, and the global criminal syndicates profiting from it, will not be tolerated."

"Elephant populations are collapsing in many parts of Africa, and rhino poaching in South Africa has spiked to historic levels," he said. "Wildlife crime not only threatens these and countless other species, it also risks the lives and livelihoods of local communities, facilitates corruption and undermines regional and global security."