Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 3.djvu/62

 Ill STAT. 2150 PUBLIC LAW 105-96 —NOV. 19, 1997 Public Law 105-96 105th Congress An Act To assist in the conservation of Asian elephants by supporting and providing financial Nov. 19, 1997 resources for the conservation programs of nations within the range of Asian [HR 1787] elephants and projects of persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of Asian elephants. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Asian Elephant the United States of America in Congress assembled, Conservation Act of 1997. SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 16 USC 4261 note. This Act may be cited as the 'Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997". 16 USC 4261. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) Asian elephant populations in nations within the range of Asian elephants have continued to decline to the point that the long-term survival of the species in the wild is in serious jeopardy. (2) The Asian elephant is listed as an endangered species under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and under appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. (3) Because the challenges facing the conservation of Asian elephants are so great, resources to date have not been sufficient to cope with the continued loss of habitat and the consequent diminution of Asian elephant populations. (4) The Asian elephant is a flagship species for the conservation of tropical forest habitats in which it is found and provides the consequent benefit from such conservation to numerous other species of wildlife including many other endangered species. (5) Among the threats to the Asian elephant in addition to habitat loss are population fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, poaching for ivory, meat, hide, bones and teeth, and capture for domestication. (6) To reduce, remove, or otherwise effectively address these threats to the long-term viability of populations of Asian elephants in the wild will require the joint commitment and effort of nations within the range of Asian elephants, the United States and other countries, and the private sector. 16 USC 4262. SEC. 3. PURPOSES. The purposes of this Act are the following: (1) To perpetuate healthy populations of Asian elephants.

�