{"id":20965,"date":"2016-03-03T10:51:45","date_gmt":"2016-03-03T18:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=20965"},"modified":"2016-03-03T10:51:45","modified_gmt":"2016-03-03T18:51:45","slug":"new-fed-report-african-elephant-population-declining-one-in-twenty-wild-rhinos-killed-by-poachers-last-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=20965","title":{"rendered":"New Fed Report: African Elephant Population Declining, One in Twenty Wild Rhinos Killed by Poachers Last Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0WASHINGTON D.C.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The escalation of wildlife trafficking in recent years poses an urgent threat to conservation and global security, according to the 2015 Annual Progress Report by\u00a0U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rhino\"
Rhino With Horns Cut Off by Poachers (Photo: National Geographic.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

African elephant populations have declined by about 20 percent in the last decade to just over 400,000, and one out of every twenty wild rhinos was killed by a poacher in the last year alone, the report, which was released today. states.<\/span><\/p>\n

Well-armed traffickers exploit porous borders and weak institutions, eroding governance and undermining livelihoods.<\/span><\/p>\n

To tackle this problem, President Obama created the Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking, bringing together 17 federal departments and agencies to create and implement a National Strategy to stop illegal activities that threaten the future survival of a multitude of species, including such iconic wildlife as elephants, rhinos, tigers, and sea turtles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite these alarming trends, 2015 was a turning point in the fight against wildlife trafficking.<\/span><\/p>\n

In September, President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to enact nearly complete bans on ivory import and export, and to take significant and timely steps to halt the domestic commercial trade in ivory.<\/span><\/p>\n

When enacted, these steps will have a dramatic impact on two of the world\u2019s largest wildlife markets and may lead other countries to halt their domestic commercial ivory markets. Here at home, there are wide-ranging restrictions on the domestic trade in African elephant ivory.<\/span><\/p>\n

The National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking and the Task Force\u2019s Implementation Plan center on three objectives: strengthening enforcement, reducing demand, and expanding international cooperation. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Task Force agencies have realized substantial progress in all three areas, for example, according to officials:<\/span><\/p>\n