DeFazio Introduces Legislation to Curb Illegal Wildlife Trafficking (Updated)

Press Release

In recognition of Earth Day, Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced legislation to save the world's last remaining African elephants and rhinoceros from poachers. The bill would impose trade sanctions on countries that facilitate ivory and rhino horn trafficking. Ivory from elephant tusks and horn from rhinos contributes billions of dollars to the global illegal wildlife trade and funds organized crime and terrorist organizations.

"More than 20,000 elephants and 1,200 rhinos were slaughtered in 2014 alone and over 1,000 park rangers have been killed trying to protect endangered wildlife," said DeFazio. "The illegal wildlife trade funds the operations of gun, drug and human trafficking crime syndicates. It also funds extremely dangerous terrorist groups that threaten regional stability in Africa and national security in the United States. We need to choke off access to the market, especially in countries with the largest number of consumers such as China and Vietnam. My legislation sends a strong message--if countries permit this illegal trafficking, there will be economic consequences."

DeFazio also testified today at a hearing about the national security challenges of poaching and terrorism held by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. His statement can be found here.

DeFazio's legislation, HR 1945, the Targeted Use of Sanctions for Killing Elephants and Rhinoceros (TUSKER) Act, was named in honor of Satao, a large-tusked (or tusker) elephant that was butchered last year by poachers in Kenya.

According to the UN Security Council, a number of terrorist organizations are funded in part by the sale of elephant ivory, rhino horn, and other stolen natural resources. They include, Joseph Kony and the Lord's resistance Army in Uganda, the Janjaweed in Darfur, and the Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab is responsible for two recent attacks in Kenya that have left more than 100 people dead. It is reported to receive as much as 40 percent of its financing from the sale of illegal ivory and other poached wildlife.

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