The following testimony was submitted today by Dr. James Deutsch, WCS Vice President of Conservation Strategy, before the California Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife committee:

The following statement is from Cristián Samper, WCS President and CEO and member of President Obama’s Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking.

March 3 2015 marks World Wildlife Day, and this year’s theme is: “It’s time to get serious about wildlife crime.” The Wildlife Conservation Society Central Park Zoo will host the United Nations and key government and civil society partners for a high-level panel discussion on international wildlife crime.

A copy of the testimony submitted today to the Hawaii House Committee on Water and Land in support of HB 837, which would help shut down the illegal trade in ivory currently decimating elephants across Africa. 

At the Clinton Global Initiative, John Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, looks back on the accomplishments that have been achieved in the last year to protect African elephants. Those include the successful 96 Elephants campaign in the United States, social media outreach efforts in China, and the newly passed New York and New Jersey State bans on ivory.

96 Elephants campaign helps achieve ivory bans in New York and New Jersey and expand social media impact in China96 Elephants sparks 672,500 emails to officials in support of elephantsCGI launches The Elephant Action Network to increase conservation partners and monitor successes NEW YORK (Sept. 23, 2014)—The Wildlife Conservation Society reported today at the Clinton Global Initiative’s Annual Meeting a number of encouraging gains achieved over the past year in the fight to save Africa’s eleph...

WCS president and CEO Cristián Samper commends New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for signing a historic law banning the purchase and sale of elephant ivory and rhino horn.

New Law Elevates Penalties on Criminals Profiting From Killing of Elephants and Rhinos NEW YORK (August 12, 2014) – The Wildlife Conservation Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Humane Society of the United States, and The Nature Conservancy applaud New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for signing a state ban on the sale and purchase of elephant ivory and rhino horn today on World Elephant Day. Governor Cuomo signed into law a two-house bill formulated to address New York State’s statu...

Nationwide activities send message to stop ivory trade and raise awareness of elephant crisis 96,000 messages sent to officials from national 96 Elephants coalition96 elephants are gunned down every day for their ivoryCampaign URL: www.96elephants.org [New York – World Elephant Day – August 12, 2014] The 96 Elephants campaign and its coalition of partners throughout the U.S. is commemorating World Elephant Day today.As part of the World Elephant Day celebration, more than 100 partnering AZA acc...

This World Elephant Day, Elizabeth Bennett, Vice President for Species Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society, suggests New York set an example for the rest of the country and the world and ban the sale of ivory.