Enact Legislation Outlawing the Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn in the State of Indiana
The Issue
The goal of this petition is to bring about legislation that would ban the sale and import of ivory and rhino horn into the state of Indiana.
The US has the second largest market for ivory next to China at number 1 and is part of the problem. (International Business Times, August 2014)
US Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe says US is one of the largest markets for ivory and the demand has to decrease. Says elephants are being slaughtered for greed and to make trinkets and dolls out of poached ivory. Elephant populations in a death spiral. Says window to save species is closing. (US Fish and Wildlife, Directors Corner, September 2014)
To understand the brutality of the killing, one must be aware of the methods – AK47’s, poisoned watermelons, cyanide dumped in watering holes (thereby killing entire ecosystems in the process), hacking off tusks or horns while the animal is still alive, paralysis darts so the species cannot move yet is fully cognizant of machetes slicing into its skulls, and poisoned darts leading to weeks and weeks of extreme suffering before a long, unspeakable death. (McAvey, 2015)
The brave rangers in Africa protecting the elephants and rhinos from poachers have inadequate training, care, food, etc. They deal with a magnitude of stress and many rangers have lost their lives protecting these animals. Worldwide two rangers are killed every week. They need support. (National Geographic, For Rangers on the Front Lines, June 2014)
96 elephants are killed each day for their ivory which would equate to one every fifteen minutes and about 35,000-40,000 killed each year for ivory. (96 Elephants, WCS) Between 2010-2012 about 100,000 elephants were killed ( US Fish and Wildlife, October 2014) About 1200 rhinos were killed illegally in South Africa alone in 2014( National Geographic, January 2015)
I am calling on each and everyone of you to help push Governor Mike Pence and state lawmakers to produce and pass legislation banning the sale of ivory in the State of Indiana. These iconic species could be gone from the wild in about ten years if action is not taken. With 25 states taking action this is not just a federal issue.
The time to do something is now before it is too late. I will appreciate all of your support.
Sincerely,
Dustin Thibideau
References:
100,000 elephants killed between 2010-2012: http://www.fws.gov/le/elephant-ivory-crush.html
1,200 rhinos killed in South Africa:
96 elephants killed a day: https://www.96elephants.org/
Two rangers killed weekly, Rangers on the frontline: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140627-congo-virunga-wildlife-rangers-elephants-rhinos-poaching/
US has second largest market for Ivory (August 2014, International Business Times) : http://www.ibtimes.com/illegal-ivory-trade-us-authorities-target-american-auction-houses-1656750
Dan Ashe US Fish and Wildlife Director (September 2014) : http://www.fws.gov/director/dan-ashe/index.cfm/2014/9/2/Bad-News-on-Poaching-Must-Strengthen-Our-Resolve-to-Protect-African-Elephants
Elephants gone in Ten years (August 2013) http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/421411/Elephants-extinct-within-12-years
Ashley McAvey (2015) ivoryfreevermont.org Link: http://www.ivoryfreevermont.org/
The Issue
The goal of this petition is to bring about legislation that would ban the sale and import of ivory and rhino horn into the state of Indiana.
The US has the second largest market for ivory next to China at number 1 and is part of the problem. (International Business Times, August 2014)
US Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe says US is one of the largest markets for ivory and the demand has to decrease. Says elephants are being slaughtered for greed and to make trinkets and dolls out of poached ivory. Elephant populations in a death spiral. Says window to save species is closing. (US Fish and Wildlife, Directors Corner, September 2014)
To understand the brutality of the killing, one must be aware of the methods – AK47’s, poisoned watermelons, cyanide dumped in watering holes (thereby killing entire ecosystems in the process), hacking off tusks or horns while the animal is still alive, paralysis darts so the species cannot move yet is fully cognizant of machetes slicing into its skulls, and poisoned darts leading to weeks and weeks of extreme suffering before a long, unspeakable death. (McAvey, 2015)
The brave rangers in Africa protecting the elephants and rhinos from poachers have inadequate training, care, food, etc. They deal with a magnitude of stress and many rangers have lost their lives protecting these animals. Worldwide two rangers are killed every week. They need support. (National Geographic, For Rangers on the Front Lines, June 2014)
96 elephants are killed each day for their ivory which would equate to one every fifteen minutes and about 35,000-40,000 killed each year for ivory. (96 Elephants, WCS) Between 2010-2012 about 100,000 elephants were killed ( US Fish and Wildlife, October 2014) About 1200 rhinos were killed illegally in South Africa alone in 2014( National Geographic, January 2015)
I am calling on each and everyone of you to help push Governor Mike Pence and state lawmakers to produce and pass legislation banning the sale of ivory in the State of Indiana. These iconic species could be gone from the wild in about ten years if action is not taken. With 25 states taking action this is not just a federal issue.
The time to do something is now before it is too late. I will appreciate all of your support.
Sincerely,
Dustin Thibideau
References:
100,000 elephants killed between 2010-2012: http://www.fws.gov/le/elephant-ivory-crush.html
1,200 rhinos killed in South Africa:
96 elephants killed a day: https://www.96elephants.org/
Two rangers killed weekly, Rangers on the frontline: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140627-congo-virunga-wildlife-rangers-elephants-rhinos-poaching/
US has second largest market for Ivory (August 2014, International Business Times) : http://www.ibtimes.com/illegal-ivory-trade-us-authorities-target-american-auction-houses-1656750
Dan Ashe US Fish and Wildlife Director (September 2014) : http://www.fws.gov/director/dan-ashe/index.cfm/2014/9/2/Bad-News-on-Poaching-Must-Strengthen-Our-Resolve-to-Protect-African-Elephants
Elephants gone in Ten years (August 2013) http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/421411/Elephants-extinct-within-12-years
Ashley McAvey (2015) ivoryfreevermont.org Link: http://www.ivoryfreevermont.org/
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Petition created on June 7, 2015