U.S. Steps Up Fight Against Poaching and Wildlife Trafficking
Congress, the President, and several states are responding to African wildlife crisis with new actions.
With the slaughter of elephants and rhinos in Africa at record levels, lawmakers in the U.S. are stepping up efforts to save some of the world's most iconic species.
An Obama administration task force is expected to make recommendations on how the federal government do more to fight wildlife trafficking, a trade that largely revolves around elephant tusks and rhino horns, by the end of the month.
On Thursday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set to discuss legislation to strengthen law enforcement efforts against wildlife trafficking by bolstering resources, improving information sharing among agencies, and stiffening penalties for traffickers. A similar bill is working its way through the House of Representatives.
Last month, more than one ton of confiscated elephant
