U.S. FISH & WILDIFE SERVICE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 4(D) RULE OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT REGARDING AFRICAN ELEPHANT

CPHC-SA is in the process of reviewing this document and obtaining expert opinions to support us in commenting on the proposed rule by the closing date of 20 March 2022.

The full document can be obtained here

In summary:
On November 17, 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced new proposed measures for African Elephant Protection. The Service is proposing an amendment to the 4(d) rule of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to benefit African elephant conservation in the wild while improving the welfare of captive elephants held under U.S. jurisdiction.

The USF&WS indicated their intended purposes as being threefold:

1) To increase protection for African elephants in light of the recent rise in international trade of live African elephants by establishing ESA enhancement permit requirements for international trade in live elephants and specific enhancement requirements for the import of wild-sourced elephants, as well as requirements to ensure that proposed recipients of live African elephants are suitably equipped to house and care for them;
2) To clarify the existing enhancement requirement during our evaluation of an application for a permit to import African elephant sport-hunted trophies; and 3) To incorporate a CITES Party’s designation under the CITES National Legislation Project into the decision-making process for the import of live African elephants, African elephant sport-hunted trophies, and African elephant parts and products other than ivory and sport-hunted trophies.