The commercial trade in wild animals is a multi-billion dollar industry that threatens the survival of many species and results in the inhumane treatment of countless animals every year.
Despite global restrictions and domestic law designed to protect elephants from poaching, illegal ivory is sold on a massive scale throughout the United States, according to an investigative report issued today.
The Humane Society of the United States and its international arm, Humane Society International, joined with Care for the Wild International, Save the Elephants and the John Aspinall Foundation to support this new investigation.
Don’t buy ivory
The public should not buy ivory because it is not possible to know for certain its orgin and it is likely to have come from poached elephants in Africa. Learn how you can help stop elephant poaching and other wildlife abuses by signing the Don’t Buy Wild pledge today.
Between 1979 and 1989, the number of African elephants plunged from about 1.2 million to about 600,000. The trade ban halted the precipitous decline of African elephant populations but the pressure on these majestic animals is keen today because of high demand for ivory.
For more information please enter the following link, as I am not affiliated with The HSUS: http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/issues_facing_wildlife/wildlife_trade/elephant_trade_fact_sheet/elephant_poaching_and_ivory_seizures/2008_us_ivory_report.html
