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Animals

BY KRIS SHERMAN

It was a sobering scene. Spread out on two tables at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Wash., sat artifacts from the “extinction economy.” An ashtray crafted from a rhinoceros foot. Glistening sea turtle skin boots. An elephant hide wallet. A leopard skin fur muff. A cheetah paw paperweight. The list was long—and grisly. Rhino horns and elephant tusks, a taxidermied sea turtle, “medicines” made with rhino, tiger and pangolin parts, a baseball cap decorated with a tuft of lion fur.

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communities we serve care deeply about protecting these endangered animals and taking every step nimal lovers could easily cry at this gruesome possible to protect them from extinction. We are gathering of poached body parts. And that was hopeful that that our success can be repeated in exactly the point. Days before a crucial election, other states across the nation.” the display drew media attention to a landmark The initiative, which took effect in December, Washington state ballot initiative to ban the carries a range of penalties; the most egregious purchase, sale and distribution of products violations could result in a fine of up to $14,000 and made from 10 endangered species. up to five years in prison. The public was swayed. In a 70 percent The passage of I-1401 resulted from the landslide, more than 1 million people voted in favor teamwork of four Association of Zoos and of Initiative 1401 to protect elephants, rhinos, tigers, Aquariums (AZA)-accredited facilities in lions, cheetahs, leopards, pangolins, sharks, rays collaboration with animal welfare advocates, and sea turtles. The measure passed on 3 November conservation organizations and a generous 2015 in all 39 Washington counties, from the most philanthropist. Geddes oversees Point Defiance liberal to the quite conservative. Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash., and Northwest “We’re grateful to the voters of Washington Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville, Wash., which for supporting this critical piece of conservation joined Woodland Park Zoo and Seattle Aquarium in law,” said Gary Geddes, director of zoological Seattle, Wash., to champion the measure. and environmental education for Metro Parks in It was a sweet victory. Other states had enacted Tacoma, Wash. “Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium stiff laws against trafficking ivory; none had passed a and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and the sweeping law protecting so many species.

22 www.aza.org | May 2016 A Case Study But the passage of I-1401 also traveled a long and sometimes difficult path. Inspired by the Wildlife Conservation Society’s 96 Elephants campaign, Woodland Park Zoo, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park went to the 2015 State Legislature, seeking passage of bills banning the sale of ivory and rhino horn in Washington. Leaders of all four facilities forcefully testified on behalf of the legislation. Enthusiastic youth volunteers from Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium carried small stuffed elephants and spoke passionately in its favor. Though Senate Bill 5241 and House Bill 1131 had bipartisan support, they failed to advance past the hearings stage and died without a full vote in either chamber. “There wasn’t a tremendous amount of grassroots support,” said State Sen. Christine Rolfes, a Democrat who was one of nine sponsors of the Senate bill. “There just wasn’t any real oomph pushing it forward. And there was some very vocal k3RLQW'HƓDQFH=RR $TXDULXP

May 2016 | www.aza.org 23 Building a Coalition Having four AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums in one state and “all speaking with one voice was incredibly important,” said Woodland Park Zoo Public Affairs and Advocacy Manager Kerston Swartz. Vulcan, Inc. ... stepped up to join with But a far larger network of advocates was needed, and Vulcan, Inc., was there to create it. the state’s four AZA members on an “I-1401 was a great case study, and I think it resulted in some really positive results, not only in initiative campaign that widened the protecting wildlife but also in strengthening the scope of the proposed law and broadened conservation community,” said Jared Axelrod, senior government affairs associate at Vulcan. “We built the coalition of those fighting for it. They some coalitions and built some bridges where they didn’t exist before. launched Initiative 1401 under the banner “The zoo and aquarium community and some name of Save Animals Facing members of the animal welfare community don’t always see eye to eye on issues. But stopping animal Extinction. trafficking and saving endangered species really was an issue everyone could get behind.” The Humane Society of the United States opposition from antique dealers—and behind the became one of the top contributors to the campaign, scene, was the powerful gun lobby.” and the group’s chief executive officer appeared in a Both groups complained the bills would strip television ad on behalf of I-1401. them of their ability to sell and resell antiques made Ultimately, I-1401 received endorsements from from ivory, including ivory-handled guns and knives. a wide range of groups, including the International Though stinging, the February failure in the Fund for Animal Welfare, Conservation Northwest, Legislature gave rise to the use of a powerful political Born Free USA, 96 Elephants, African Wildlife process: an initiative of the people. Washington is Foundation, National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra one of just 24 states nationwide that allows citizens Club, Washington State Democrats, Mainstream to put new laws to a vote by gathering signatures of Republicans of Washington, National Resources registered voters to qualify for the ballot. Defense Council, WildAid, Audubon Washington, Vulcan, Inc., founded by philanthropist Paul G. Defenders of Wildlife, Humane Voters of Allen, also is committed to protecting endangered Washington, Environmental Investigation Agency, species. The company stepped up to join with the SPCA International and the Hong Kong – Greater state’s four AZA members on an initiative campaign China Business Association of Washington. that widened the scope of the proposed law and Once the initiative qualified for the November broadened the coalition of those fighting for it. ballot, members of the coalition fanned out across They quickly launched Initiative 1401 under the their respective regions, reaching out to media banner name of Save Animals Facing Extinction. outlets for stories, to newspaper editorial boards for The 15-page act was filed with the Secretary of State favorable editorials and to influential business and on 3 April, and within three months the campaign community leaders and elected officials. Screenings group gathered the necessary 246,372 signatures of of Vulcan Productions’ heartrending documentary, registered voters to put it on the November ballot. In “Racing Extinction,” created a massive call to action. fact, the signature-gathering effort was so successful, “It takes a lot of hard work,” said Seattle nearly 349,000 names were submitted. Aquarium Conservation Manager Mark Plunkett. “Wildlife experts report that within the next “You have to make the phone calls. You have to meet decade or sooner, some of the planet’s most and greet. precious and endangered species may face a “You also have to think outside the box, because critical tipping point toward extinction,” Robert you probably have friendly people around you who W. Davidson, president and chief executive officer want to help—if only you ask.” of Seattle Aquarium, said when the campaign began. “Our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Getting Buy-in Near and Far Our Marine Environment compels us to strongly Each AZA member in the group needed to support Initiative Measure 1401. By strengthening follow different rules of engagement regarding protections against trafficking in products from the initiative. As government-run zoos, Point these increasingly endangered animals, we can help Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek save sharks, manta rays and sea turtles and protect Wildlife Park were restricted by state law governing ocean life.” expenditures of public funds as to how they might

24 www.aza.org | May 2016 © Michael B. Maine © Michael B. help the campaign. Both could produce fact sheets Recognizing that having other well-known and answer questions about the initiative but not zoos and aquariums also backing the initiative contribute money, hold rallies or distribute pro- was important and, Woodland Park Zoo Acting initiative materials. The nonprofit Zoo Society, President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce which supports Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Bohmke joined with Seattle Aquarium’s Davidson was, however, able to campaign and donate to the and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest effort. The Northwest Trek Foundation also helped Trek’s Geddes in writing a letter asking for support. out. Woodland Park Zoo and Seattle Aquarium, as “The goal of this measure,” the letter read in part, nonprofits, were more freely able to campaign for “is not only to do our part in saving these animals, the measure. but to break the demand cycle in our state and create At Woodland Park Zoo, for example, Swartz a model for other states to do the same.” gave presentations to zookeepers about I-1401, “and AZA endorsed I-1401 in September. By Election the next thing you know, there was a lot of buzz Day, the initiative also was backed by Mystic about it,” she said. “Keepers were incorporating it Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Boise, BREC’s into their talks and wearing buttons that read, ‘Ask Baton Rouge Zoo, National Aquarium, Zoo New Me About 1401.’ It was a zoowide effort. It was really England representing Franklin Park Zoo and Stone easy to get buy-in.” Zoo, the Wildlife Conservation Society representing Securing that kind of holistic support is key, the Bronx Zoo, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and said Seattle Aquarium’s Plunkett. In a facility where Oregon Coast Aquarium. everyone is busy every day, it can be difficult to And though it passed handily, the work of the persuade people at first that they need to take on I-1401 campaign is far from done. The law took some added work. “Everyone is overloaded,” he said. effect in December, and members of the coalition “But once I took the time to inform my colleagues are back at the Legislature this year, lobbying that this was a critical effort and could be a model for adequate funds to allow the Washington for the nation, people grabbed it and embraced Department of Fish & Wildlife to enforce it. Seattle it. Our education staff came up with talks, our and Tacoma form the third largest port complex in marketing staff helped with messaging and our the nation, with millions of tons of cargo coming webmaster was very enthusiastic.” through each year. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

May 2016 | www.aza.org 25 Tips for Meeting the Global Poaching Crisis Head On

Every state has different rules governing how laws are enacted, and only 24 have initiative processes by which the people can put a measure before voters. But several lessons learned by the stakeholders of Washington’s successful Initiative 1401 campaign can be adapted for use in all jurisdictions. Here are a few of them: • Form a broad coalition early and line up support from a broad representation of cultures and socio-political backgrounds. • Let everyone in your organization know that you are seeking greater legal protection for endangered animals and how you’re going about it. Many staff members will be eager to help, even if it means a bit more work for them. • If you plan to go to your legislature seeking strong anti-trafficking laws, set up a grassroots support network early and seek endorsements from key business and conservation organizations. Remember, it can take months for proposals to be submitted and boards to act. • Work to secure a bipartisan group of respected lawmakers to sponsor your legislation. • Scrutinize every sentence of a bill or initiative and think strategically about who might oppose it and why. This might help you avoid some opposition and allow you to make clear- eyed preparations and arguments for resistance from powerful lobbying groups. • Recruit credible spokespeople and seek ServiceService seized more than 50 tons of elephant endorsements from groups with large like-mindedidd productsd in the state since 2010. Shark fin soup is constituencies, even if they’re in another state. reportedly sold in Puget Sound-area restaurants. • Make a connection with lawmakers and voters. All of the stakeholders say they would like the initiative to serve as a model for other states, Telling the stories of animals slaughtered for their but they also know that what was achieved in tusks or left dying in the ocean after their fins were cut Washington—and how—isn’t easily transferable to off create powerful images in people’s minds. So does all jurisdictions. showing visuals of baby animals in their native lands. AZA Chief Operating Officer Jill Nicoll is • Focus your campaign on protecting animals and hopeful that Washington’s success can be replicated. saving them from extinction. That resonates more with “But we have to understand that there are regional political and cultural differences,” she said. “You people than focusing only on, say, tusks and ivory. don’t change the message that saving endangered species is imperative, but you have to customize it based on your visitors, the politics of your area, the

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local culture. You take that message and tailor it to world—to end the demand that fuels the extinction of be impactful where you are.” animals in the wild,” he said on election night. “What the opportunity is for us on a national “Other states now have the opportunity to build level is to engage with the 180 million annual visitors upon what Washington has started by achieving that go to 233 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums,” victories of their own,” he added. “In 2016, Oregon she added. “For many zoos and aquariums, the voters will be faced with a similar initiative, and mission is to inspire and educate and what those in when it passes, three major West Coast states will Washington have done is inspire and educate and have laws banning the sales of endangered species activate. The next opportunity for AZA and for products. With each victory, we’re one step closer to wildlife conservation is to engage our visitors in a avoiding extinction.” higher level of conservation action.” Dr. Fred Koontz, Woodland Park Zoo vice Kris Sherman is communications associate president of field conservation, would agree with manager at 3oint 'eƓance =oo ATuarium that observation. and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and a retired “I-1401 establishes a model for citizens, legislators reporter and editor at The News Tribune in and leaders across the United States—and around the Tacoma, Wash.

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