Senate Bill 5014, the “Big Five African Trophies Act,” would ban in the State of New York the importation, transportation, and possession of any part or product of six major African species of wildlife; the African elephant, lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, and giraffe. 

As always, SCI is quick to point out two facts:

• Adoption of this legislation will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the actual conservation of these species.
• These types of laws are unenforceable and preempted by federal law.

Trophy import prohibitions go against decades of scientific research compiled by wildlife experts in African nations, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the U.S. Government, and Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), among others. As confirmed by that research, hunting generates incentives that protect habitat, reduce poaching, provide revenue for social services and infrastructure, and encourage local stakeholders to participate in the conservation of these species. 

It is well documented that the largest populations of lions, elephants, leopards, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and many other species live in countries where highly regulated hunting exists. The IUCN reports that import restrictions on species like the African elephant, black rhino, white rhino, and lion “could likely cause serious declines of populations.”

Tell New York lawmakers that Senate Bill 5014 is BAD for conservation!