15008 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS June 16, 1988 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS INTRODUCTION OF THE AFRI­ Since 1980 the annual volume of world tive to our conservation efforts to ban this CAN ELEPHANT ANTI-POACH­ ivory was 800 tons. To meet this demand type of activity. ING ACT OF 1988 some 70,000 elephants must die each year. The second type of ivory, called legal com­ Yet, only 3 percent of this ivory is imported mercial ivory, is obtained from culling oper­ directly from Africa. The bulk of it arrives from ations, confiscated ivory, or found ivory from HON. JACK FIELDS such intermediary places as Hong Kong, natural mortality. While this type of production OF TEXAS China, and Japan. We in the United States is biologically neutral, it does provide some fi­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES consume 30 percent of the world's ivory each nancial incentives for elephant conservation. year. This represents some 7.2 million pieces The third type is illegal commercial ivory, or Thursday, June 16, 1988 of jewelry with a value of $11.8 million. Since poached ivory. In almost every case, this ac­ Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, during the past many experts believe that nearly 80 percent tivity is biologically unsound in that it leads to several months, I have spent a considerable of all imported ivory is poached, purchases in the destruction of the elephant population. In amount of time trying to develop a legislative the United States, therefore, account tor the addition, it contributes nothing to the econo­ proposal which will protect the African ele­ deaths of some 27,000 African elephants mies of the producing nations, and therefore phant from further poaching in Africa. every year. provides little, if any, incentive to conserve I have met with ambassadors from several With the population of the African elephant elephants or elephant habitat. Our efforts African countries; officials of the United States declining by nearly 9 percent a year, it is clear must be directed at stopping this poaching, or Fish and Wildlife Service; and individuals rep­ that unless some legislative action is taken, at least eliminating the financial incentives resenting sport hunters, conservationists, and taken quickly, we will witness the annihila­ which lead poachers to kill elephants. We animal rights organizations, and environmen­ tion of the African elephant within the next must remember that poachers are motivated talists. decade. by ivory prices which are greater than a year's Why does a Congressman from Houston, While I have received divergent views, no wages for most African workers. TX, care about the African elephant? Well, let one has disagreed with me when I've said Mr. Speaker, after careful deliberation, I be­ me tell you why. As someone who has been a that unless some action is taken now, the Afri­ lieve that the best solution to this serious sportsman and a hunter all of his life, I can elephant will be decimated in the near poaching problem is a straightforward ban on learned early on to have a great appreciation all worked and raw ivory from any country future. and love for all of God's creatures. I want to I want my colleagues to realize that during see all species preserved, not because I want which does not have a native population of the past 10 years, the population of African to hunt a certain animal, but because I want African elephants living in the wild. elephants has declined by almost half. In others to be able to experience the joy of While I recognize that the United States 1979, the total elephant population in Africa seeing these animals in their natural habitat. cannot unilaterally stop the flow of poached was approximately 1.3 million animals. Today, There is nothing more exhilarating than ivory, we have a responsibility to take a lead­ fewer than 750,000 African elephants are watching an elephant periscope the wind with ership role in this matter. If we simply waited alive. its trunk or trumpet other members of its herd. for the rest of the world to act in time of crisis, And the destruction of this magnificent I believe that we have a responsibility to help it is unlikely we would ever have enacted the animal has not been confined to just a few Af­ save the African elephant for future genera­ Endangered Species Act or the Marine rican nations. For instance, the African Wildlife tions. Mammal Protection Act, which are two of our Foundation points out that: Because of my hunting experience, I con­ most prominent wildlife protection laws. In 1973, some 130,000 elephants lived in sider myself a conservationist. The terms I agree that the solution to this problem the Republic of Kenya. In 1987, it was esti­ hunter, sportsman, and conservationist are not cannot be confined simply to intermediary mated that fewer than 20,000 remained. This mutually exclusive. In fact, the hunting com­ countries, but a ban on ivory imported from is a population loss of 85 percent. munity has spent millions of dollars trying to nonproducing countries is the best place to In 1977, the Selous Game Reserve in the save not only the African elephant but also start. From here we can work with the Con­ United Republic of Tanzania had a population the black rhino, leopard, and many other spe­ vention on International Trade in Endangered of 109,000 elephants. Today, only half of cies. Species of Wild Fauna and Flora [CITES] so them, or 55,000, are alive. Before describing my legislative remedy to that it can be more effective on an internation­ In 1976, some 80,000 to 100,000 elephants this problem, it is important to note that there al scale. roamed the plains of the Central African Re­ are three types of ivory. In addition to eliminating tons of poached public. By 1985, fewer than 15,000 remained. First, there is sports-hunted ivory. It ac­ ivory which flood this country, this legislation During the turbulent period of ldi Amin in counts for a minuscule percentage of ivory ex­ will provide important new incentives for Afri­ the 1970's, 80 to 90 percent of Uganda's ele­ ports from producing countries. This activity is can elephant conservation programs. For in­ phants were slaughtered. A single herd in the biologically sound and produces by far the stance, within a few years, ivory carvers will Murchison Falls National Park was reduced greatest economic return per animal for the be forced to move their operations to Africa. from more than 9,000 elephants in 1973 to producing nation. By so doing, they will help build the local only 25 survivors in 1982. In order to legally hunt an elephant, an indi­ economies of these nations and provide a Before its Civil War, Chad had an estimated vidual must pay substantial permit and safari powerful incentive to managing the African 15,000 elephants. Today, fewer than 2,000 fees to the producing nation. Those fees far elephant population in a sound manner. elephants live in that nation. exceed the commercial value of the ivory Mr. Speaker, it is for these reasons that I In Southern Sudan, much of the elephant itself. Because of this vital infusion of capital, am pleased to introduce today the African population has been wiped out by marauding there is a tremendous incentive for elephant Elephant Anti-Poaching Act of 1988. It is my groups of poachers. protection efforts. Several African countries, hope that this bill will stimulate debate so we Finally, a recent aerial count in Somalia re­ most notably Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South can move forward this year to consider legis­ vealed more elephant carcasses than live ani­ Africa, have established outstanding elephant lation which will help protect the African ele­ mals. conservation programs. phant. It would be tragic if we looked back 10 Why have these elephants been killed in There is no relationship between the move­ years from now and noted that we could have such staggering numbers? The primary reason ment of sport-hunted ivory and illegally ob­ saved the African elephant if only we had the is the world's growing appetite for ivory. tained ivory. It would also be counterproduc- courage to act. e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. June 16, 1988 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 15009 While I have not yet asked for specific com­ [From the Christian Science Monitor, May and order" advocates unleash the very law­ ments on this proposal, several organizations 10, 1988] lessness and amoral behavior that further have already added their voices in support. RACE IS NOW A CLASS ISSUE polarize society between race and class. And For instance, the African Safari Club of Wash­ <By John V. Lindsay> political leaders must cease using code words that thinly disguise appeals to racism. ington, DC, stated that: Most reports by presidential commissions It is essential that America's leadership lie forgotten, gathering dust in the Library We should "allow the import of properly sets a healing tone in domestic politics. As documented elephant products from pro­ of Congress. Yet, Americans who hope their the Kerner Commission noted, the plight of ducing nations, while prohibiting imports country will practice what its Constitution the disenfranchised casts a long shadow of from nonproducing nations such as Hong preaches still invoke the report presented to President Lyndon Johnson 20 years ago by uncertainty over every American's future.