FWS Amends Import and Export Requirements for Live African Elephants and Trophies
The Fish and Wildlife Service is amending import and export requirements for the African elephant (Loxodonta Africana) included in a Section 4(d) rule issued under the Endangered Species Act, it said in a final rule April 1.
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The final rule amends the existing Section 4(d) rule by establishing enhancement permit requirements for international trade in live elephants and specific enhancement requirements for the import of wild-sourced elephants. It also sets “requirements to ensure that all proposed recipients of live African elephants are suitably equipped to house and care for them.”
FWS is also clarifying “the existing enhancement requirement during our evaluation of an application for a permit to import African elephant sport-hunted trophies,” and will allow only imports from countries that are designated Category One under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) National Legislation Project.
The final rule sets an “annual certification requirement for range countries that allow for export of live African elephants destined for the United States to provide the Service with information about the management and status of African elephants in their country.”
Likewise, FWS will establish an “annual certification requirement for range countries that allow for export of sport-hunted trophies destined for the United States to provide the Service with information about the management and status of African elephants and the hunting programs in their country.”
FWS said its final rule doesn’t affect Section 4(d) regulations on imports and exports of African elephant ivory. The final rule takes effect May 1.