Illegal wildlife trafficking is driving animals like elephants, tigers, and rhinos to the brink of extinction, according to the World Wildlife Fund and other conservation groups.
Despite global efforts to halt the illegal trade in threatened and endangered species, these and other increasingly rare animals are all too often poached and mutilated for markets in China and elsewhere in Asia.
With little more than 3,000 tigers remaining in the wild, more than 30,000 elephants killed each year for their tusks, and rhinos crashing toward extinction, the United States and China must do more to protect the world's rarest animals from the threat of poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
Demand action for the world's threatened and endangered animals! Urge Interior Secretary Jewell to step up US efforts to crack down on illegal wildlife trade and work with the Chinese government to improve cooperation to quell the demand for threatened and endangered species.
Secretary Jewell,
As someone who cares about protecting threatened and endangered wildlife species, I commend your efforts to improve international cooperation on eliminating the illegal wildlife trade.
As you collaborate with your counterparts in China and other countries with high demand for threatened and endangered species, I urge you to push for immediate, concrete commitments to measurably reduce the demand for animals like tigers, elephants, and rhinos. Likewise, I strongly urge you to commit the US to stepping up America's own efforts to crack down on illegal wildlife trade.
[Your comments]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
