[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 700, ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT 
                                OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 12, 2002

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 700, 
the Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2001.
  The plight of the Asian elephant is not new. Today there are only 
about 40,000 wild Asian elephants in 13 countries in South and 
Southeast Asia. Half of the elephants live in India, while on the other 
end of the spectrum, there are 40 wild elephants in Nepal. With only 14 
fairly large populations, scientists are concerned that the long-term 
viability of the species has already been significantly reduced.
  In 1997, after a precipitous drop in the population of the Asian 
elephants, Congress passed the Asian Elephant Conservation Act with a 
5-year authorization. Since that time, Congress has appropriated 
approximately $2 million toward Asian elephant conservation, and 
foreign nations, local authorities and conservation organizations have 
contributed an additional $1 million. These funds have been used to 
finance 27 Asian elephant conservation projects in nine nations.
  The types of projects funded under the 1997 conservation act have 
varied with the location and have included construction of antipoaching 
camps, promotion of elephant conservation, and the study of mobility 
patterns, population dynamics and feeding patterns of elephants. 
Projects have also included equipping field staff working in protected 
areas in India and educating school age children in Asia in the 
importance of conserving Asian elephants.
  H.R. 700 is consistent with other successful legislative efforts 
including the 1988 African Elephant Conservation Act, the 1994 
Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act, and the Great Ape and Neo-
Tropical Migratory Bird conservation acts. Passage would authorize 
funding to the Interior Department's Multi-National Species 
Conservation Fund for Asian elephants for an additional 5 years, 
authorize the Department of the Interior to establish an advisory panel 
to increase public participation in the program, and reauthorize the 
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for 3 years.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

                          ____________________