Urgent! Letters Needed By End Of Day, Tomorrow, April 9th, In Support Of Iconic African Species Protection Act In California

California Senator Henry Stern has introduced Bill 1487, the Iconic African Species Protection Act, which would prohibit the possession of specified African species by any individual, firm, corporation, association, or partnership within the state of California.

Letters of support are urgently needed by tomorrow, April 9^th to help enact this crucial bill!

“Iconic African Species” means any species or subspecies of the following members of the animal kingdom: African elephant, African lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, giraffe, Jentink’s duiker, plains zebra, mountain zebra, hippopotamus, and striped hyena.

Tragically, African elephant populations declined by 30% (equal to 144,000 elephants) between 2007 and 2014. The African lion population is estimated to have declined by 43% between 1993 and 2014. And the black rhino has declined by an estimated 97.6% since 1960 with numbers bottoming out at 2,410 in 1995.

Sadly, the numbers are just as dire for other species such as the white rhino, leopard, giraffe, Jentink’s duiker, plains and mountain zebra, hippopotamus, and hyena.

The Iconic African Species Protection Act, which covers any part, product, or offspring of these iconic animals, would impose criminal penalties, including a fine and imprisonment.

Californians want to save these iconic species and one big step towards that goal is ending trophy hunting.  

If you are a group, please send your support letter on letterhead to nick@socialcompassion.org.

Individuals, please fill in the requested information and send your support letter HERE!