Signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the designation of certain species as vulnerable species, and prohibits the sale of products made from these species, including giraffe products.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any person from selling, or possessing with the intent to sell, any article made in who or in part from the skin, hide, or other parts of any vulnerable species, unless under license or permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Environmental Conservation to create rules that designate giraffes as a vulnerable species (Sec. 1).

• Defines “vulnerable specifies” as any species of wildlife designated by the department, by regulation filed with the secretary of state, which meet the following criteria (Sec. 1):

• On the basis of credible scientific evidence, which may include information contained on the international union for conservation of nature and natural resources red list of threatened species;

• The species has an observed, estimated, inferred, projected, or suspected population size reduction of 30 percent or more over the last 10 years or 3 generations, whichever is longer; 

• The geographic range of the species is less than 8,000 square miles and the are of occupancy is less than 800 square miles, and the species’ habitat is severely fragmented or the species is found in fewer than 10 locations; 

• There are less than 10,000 mature individuals and the risk of extinction of the species within 100 years is more than 10 percent; or 

• Other factors that may cause the species to go extinct if they are not identified and reversed. 

Full Bill Text