Letter to US Fish and Wildlife Service Urging Uplisting of African Elephant to Endangered Species List

SUMMARY

The Animal Law Committee (Lori Barrett, Chair) sent a comment letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service urging the Service to uplist the African elephant to “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act. The Committee noted that the African elephant’s population continues to decline at a significant rate that outpaces natural population growth rates as a result of habitat loss, poaching, commercial exploitation, trophy hunting, regional instability and climate change. Designating the African elephant as endangered would increase protections and clarify the regulatory landscape, make it easier for the public to comply, and for law enforcement to identify and prosecute violators.