Animal rights supporters want to outlaw the use of bullhooks on elephants in Massachusetts.
A series of bills being reviewed by a legislative committee today would also prohibit keeping the animals restrained by a chain for long periods of time.
Call it reality tv – out of southern Africa. Check out this incredible video shot in Malawi earlier this month, focusing on IFAW’s efforts to move nearly 60 elephants to a protected game reserve.
Learn more about how you can help IFAW’s elephant programs around the globe by logging on to www.ifaw.org.
Elephants face a number of threats in the wild — from poaching, to habitat destruction, to conflicts with humans. It is the latter that has the International Fund for Animal Welfare getting involved in the translocation of one large herd in the African nation of Malawi. And as you may imagine — moving elephants is no small feat.
Fun fact: African elephants are considered to be the largest land mammal on the planet.
Six defendants were arrested today in New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Texas for conspiring to smuggle ivory of African elephants from the Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Uganda into the United States.
A criminal complaint charging the defendants was unsealed this morning in Brooklyn Federal Court.
The defendants are: Kemo Sylla, 32, Seidou Mfomboutmoun, 35, Mamadi Doumbouya, 39, Bandjan Sidime, 36, Drissa Diane, 43, and Mamadou Kone, 43.
As set forth in the complaint, illegal trade in African elephant ivory is the major cause of the continuing decline of elephant populations in Africa. Importation of ivory into the United States has been criminalized since 1976 when the United States became a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (”CITES”).
Since then, Congress has passed the African Elephant Conservation Act, which prohibits importation of raw or worked ivory that was exported from an ivory producing country.
The maximum term of imprisonment for any defendant convicted of smuggling is 20 years.
*This video clip provided by ABC shows still photos of confiscated ivory, disguised as other items.
The Secret Life of Animals is a celebration of our deep ties to the creatures around us. Its a show that seeks to unlock the wonder of the animals themselves, our mysterious bond with them, and our lives together: From breathtaking stories of survival in the wild to pragmatic tips on understanding our pets and keeping them healthy.
The mammal in charge is host Vicki Croke, who has been covering animal issues for more than 20 years on television, radio, and in print. Her entire career has been one big excuse to pat as many animals as possible.
Copyright ©2010 NECN | All Rights Reserved. | Terms of Use and Privacy Statement | +
