*EPF412 02/15/01
Text: Lawmaker Urges Reauthorization of Bill to Save Asian Elephants
(Rep. Saxton cites success in preserving Asian elephants) (960)
Representative James Saxton (Republican of New Jersey) is seeking reauthorization of the Asian Elephant Conservation Act to help preserve the wild elephant herds of Asia.
Saxton, who authored the 1997 law that set out to preserve the Asian elephants, said in a February 14 extension of remarks speech to the House of Representatives that under the terms of Public Law 105-95, Congress could appropriate "up to $25 million to the Asian elephant conservation funds until September 30, 2002."
The New Jersey lawmaker said that so far, "some $1.9 million in Federal funds has been allocated and those moneys have been matched by an additional $1.1 million in private donations" for projects to preserve the elephants.
Among the conservation projects in different range countries supported through the legislation, is one to identify a suitable managed elephant range in Malaysia, Saxton said.
While indications seem to suggest that the worldwide population of Asian elephants "has stopped its precipitous decline," Saxton told fellow lawmakers, "it is unrealistic to believe that $3 million can save this species from extinction."
But the law itself, he went on, sends "a powerful message to the international community that we must not allow this flagship species to disappear from the wild."
The United States, Saxton said, "must continue to play a leadership role in this effort."
Saxton called on his colleagues to support the Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2001 which would extend the law for an additional five years.
Following is the text of Representative James Saxton's speech during extended remarks from the February 14 Congressional Record:
(begin text)
INTRODUCTION OF THE ASIAN ELEPHANT
CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT
HON. JIM SAXTON
(Extensions of Remarks)
February 14, 2001
HON. JIM SAXTON OF NEW JERSEY
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday
February 14, 2001
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, I introduced the Asian Elephant Conservation Act. I took that action because I was startled to learn that there were less than 40,000 Asian elephants living in the wild. Furthermore, nearly 50 percent of those elephants living in various national parks in India, while the remaining animals were scattered in fragmented populations throughout 12 other countries in South and Southeast Asia.
The primary reason for this serious decline in population was the lose of essential habitat. It is no secret that elephants and man are in direct competition for the same resources. In most cases, it was the elephants who lost in those confrontations.
In addition, Asian elephants are poached for their bones, hide, meat, and teeth; they are still captured for domestication; and conflicts between elephants and people are escalating at an alarming rate. Furthermore, it was clear that millions of people were not aware of the plight of Asian elephants and that range countries lack the financial resources to help conserve this flagship species. Without an international effort, the future of the Asian elephant was in serious jeopardy.
In response to this problem, I, along with a number of other Members, proposed the establishment of an Asian elephant conservation fund. This concept was modeled after the highly successful African elephant conservation fund, and the fundamental goal of my legislation was to obtain a small amount of Federal assistance for on-the-ground conservation projects.
In testimony before my subcommittee, eight witnesses indicated strong support for my bill and their belief that it would be an effective way to assist Asian elephants. One of those witnesses, Dr. Terry Maple, the president of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, stated that,
This bill will provide competitive financing where it is needed most -- in the wild to support protection, conservation, and management of threatened Asian elephants.
In addition, noted wildlife biologist, Doug Chadwick advised the subcommittee that to pass an Asian Elephant Conservation Act would be one of the most farsighted and yet practical things we could do (for) the benefit of Americans, people throughout Asia, and the world we share.
Fortunately, this important legislation was overwhelmingly approved by both bodies, and it was signed into law on November 19, 1997.
Under the terms of P.L. 105-95, the Congress could appropriate up to $25 million to the Asian elephant conservation funds until September 30, 2002. In fact, some $1.9 million in Federal funds has been allocated and those moneys have been matched by an additional $1.1 million in private donations. Those funds have been used to underwrite 27 conservation grants in 9 different range countries. The type of prospects funded have included: develop an elephant strategy in Sri Lanka; identification of a suitable managed elephant range in Malaysia; molecular tools for the local population assessment of Asian elephants; school education to support Asian elephant conversation in India and trace the mobility patterns, population dynamics, and feeding patterns of Sri Lankan elephants. These projects were carefully analyzed and competitively selected from a list of nearly 100 proposals that were submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
While the early indications is that the worldwide population of Asian elephants has stopped its precipitous decline, it is unrealistic to believe that $3 million can save this species from extinction. Nevertheless, this law sent a powerful message to the international community that we must not allow this flagship species to disappear from the wild. The United States must continue to play a leadership role in this effort.
I, therefore, urge my colleagues to join with in support of the Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2001 which will extend this vital conservation law for an additional 5 years.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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