A new rule announced this hebdomad by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could be a game - auto-changer in the combat to save the African elephant . Mashablereportsthat the rule adds a " near - sum ban " on the commercial-grade barter of tusk taken from the queer animals . The close - banning represents a major melioration over the United States ' previous position , which allowed for the business deal of off-white that was either brought to the U.S. prior to 1978 , when African elephants were first listed as endangered , or source from an elephant that die of natural causes .
According to the releasefrom the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , the rule was pop the question as a way to stultify and ultimately end the industry that has been gaming the scheme to overstep illegal ivory off as a legal product . " Under current law , once illegal ivory go in the market , it becomes nearly insufferable to distinguish from sound ivory , limiting the effectiveness of natural law enforcement efforts to intercept black market shipments and catch traffickers , " the Wildlife Service writes .
The raw rule is far more strict in what it does and does not take into account . The Wildlife Service notes that there will now be " specific , limited exceptions for certain pre - existing fabricate item — such as melodious instruments , furniture pieces and firearms — that hold less than 200 grams of tusk and meet other specific standard . " Most antique will also be exempt .
" We listened carefully to the lawful concerns elevate by various stakeholder groups and , as a upshot , are allowing commonsense , narrow exclusion for musicians , musical instrument makers and dealers , gun possessor and others to trade point that have minimal amounts of tusk and satisfy other condition , " Service Director Dan Ashesaidin a statement . " These items are not drivers of elephant poaching and do not provide concealment for traffickers . "
The rule will be publish in the Federal Register on June 6 and will go into core 30 sidereal day later .
[ h / tMashable ]
