[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17122-17123]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    AFRICAN WILDLIFE POACHING CRISIS

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, it was not very long ago that it seemed as 
if the ivory trade was on the decline and that the survival of African 
elephants in the wild was assured. In recent years, we have seen that 
confidence shattered, as thousands of these magnificent animals have 
been systematically killed for their tusks. Similarly, the rhinoceros, 
already endangered, is now in great jeopardy due to the voracious 
appetite in China and elsewhere in Asia for concoctions manufactured 
from their horn which can fetch thousands of dollars per ounce.
  Large-scale poaching of these and other wildlife species has become 
endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that up to 17,000 
African elephants have been killed for their tusks

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since 2011, and just last month poachers used cyanide to poison 300 
elephants in Zimbabwe. It was only a couple of years ago that we saw 
the extinction of the western black rhinoceros, another victim of 
rampant poaching. This devastating slaughter should serve as a 
deafening wake-up call to the world. It has implications that extend 
far beyond wildlife conservation.
  The international ban on ivory sales enacted in 1989 had a positive, 
albeit temporary impact on the protection of elephant and rhinoceros 
populations, but it has since spawned a black market industry in 
wildlife and wildlife parts. As I mentioned, some of the market is in 
carved ivory products and potions prized in Asia for their supposed 
medicinal or other properties. But this illicit revenue is increasingly 
being used to fund violent extremist groups in the subcontinent. The 
profits from this trade fuels trafficking in weapons, drugs, and 
humans, as well as terrorism in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and 
beyond.
  Vermonters take pride in being well informed about international 
affairs, as well as on the impact that we as individuals have on the 
world we live in. The people of my State know that many of the products 
we buy, services we support, and actions we take have global 
implications, positive and negative. That is why it was no surprise 
when more than 300 people gathered last month in the University of 
Vermont's Ira Allen Chapel to view the National Geographic documentary 
``Battle for the Elephants'' and discuss the grave threat that poaching 
poses to the world's elephant population. The consensus was that while 
the outlook is ominous, the fact that people are increasingly focused 
on this crisis is reason for hope that these animals can be saved. 
Vermont's own Laurel Neme, a renowned environment and wildlife policy 
expert, noted that technological advancements, especially in regards to 
tracing the origins of illegal ivory, have made encouraging strides.
  The United States has moral as well as strategic interests in 
combatting trafficking in wildlife and wildlife products. As I have 
mentioned, it is not only decimating elephant and rhinoceros 
populations it is also funding traffickers and terrorist groups. For 
these reasons, the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign 
Operations, of which I am chairman, included $45 million for fiscal 
year 2014 to combat wildlife poaching and trafficking, including by 
training and supporting African park rangers and other law enforcement 
officials. The Obama administration has also recognized the need to 
address this crisis more forcefully and is allocating additional 
resources.
  Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the African countries to 
protect and conserve their wildlife populations. But they cannot do it 
alone. It is imperative that we work with them and other donor 
governments and organizations to martial the resources to combat the 
black market trade in wildlife.

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