We, the undersigned, are asking the Illinois State Senate to pass SB 1858 for a complete ban on all selling and trading of ivory and rhino horn in the state of Illinois.  In 1980, there were an estimated 1.2 million wild elephants.   Now, the maximum estimated population is 420,000. Their numbers began declining in 2004 when the global commercial market for ivory resumed.  96 elephants a day are killed for their ivory by well-armed poachers with sophisticated weapons. Rhinos are not faring any better since their numbers are much fewer. The demand for their horns in Asia gets them killed every 4 hours a day.

Poaching of wild elephants and rhinos has become a revenue generator for terrorists to fund their activities.  One elephant tusk can fetch up to $175,000 and one pound of rhino horn can be sold for as much as $30,000 (tusktaskforce.org).  A substantial portion of these illegal profits end up in the hands of terrorist organizations and these organizations supply arms and resources to poachers. Thus, a cycle of violence ensues and profits go back to terrorists. Through these funds, terrorists have been able to bomb malls and colleges in Africa.  In a report on Criminal Nature by IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare); “Poaching and wildlife trafficking offer militants profits that are untraceable and readily exchanged – characteristics that are necessary in a post 9/11 world where the money laundering and banking  schemes previously used by terrorist groups have been disrupted.”  According to the National Geographic, the U.S. is the second largest importer of ivory and should take the lead on this issue. If we continue to allow the importing of ivory and rhino horn, elephants may face extinction in less than ten years and rhinos within five years, according to an analysis by Tusk Task Force.  We have to act swiftly to protect these animals and to curtail terrorist activity.  If not, extinction will happen and an illicit funding stream to terrorists will continue.

 As a state, we can follow suit as New Jersey, New York, California, and Washington have created intrastate bans on the selling and trading of ivory and rhino horn in 2015.  This year, other states are also ready to sign bills into action to ban the sell and trade of ivory and rhino horn such as Vermont, Washington D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Oregon. Illinois can stand in solidarity with these states to help prevent the extinction of these majestic animals.  Ultimately, creating an intrastate bill to ban ivory and rhino horn would also support the federal interstate bill that was proposed in July, 2015. 

 Wildlife trade funds terrorism. End the trade in ivory and rhino horn and it will also end a substantial funding revenue outlet to terrorists and protect our national and global security.  Please sign our petition to ban ivory and rhino horn in Illinois to help protect the remaining elephants and rhinos.

 On behalf of the undersigned,

 Nicole Rojas

Tusk Ambassador of Tusk Task Force

Founder of Ivory Free Illinois

Twitter: @IvoryFreeILL

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Ivory-Free-Illinois

References:

1. http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/ifaw-criminal-nature-UK.pdf
2.  www.tusktaskforce.org
3.  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080505-us-ivory_2.html