The US government's campaign to protect endangered species in Africa has lost none of its zeal. New legislation takes a pragmatic view allowing some import of wildlife products and live animals while tightening up on illegal activity. Milan Vesely has the details.

The US Fish and Wildlife Department's 1998 annual report reaffirms continuing Clinton administration support for Africa's wildlife projects, while celebrating 25 years of enforcement under the Endangered Species Act. Confirming a one million dollar allocation for the 1999 Africa program, the same as 1998, the department welcomes new solicitations for financial grants covering rhino and elephant conservation projects.

New import regulations are also clarified. Major changes in the importation of ivory and leather goods from Botswana, Namibia

and Zimbabwe are specifically detailed in the report. Following the COP 10 (Conference of People) conference in late September, some limited trade in raw ivory from these three countries will now be permitted after 18 March 1999.

Currently only ivory over 100 years old, ivory items for non-commercial use acquired prior to February 1977, and personal household effects being re-imported by returning residents are permitted entry at US ports. All other ivory products are banned.

Leather goods such as boots and elephant skin briefcases may only be imported into the United States as personal effects. Returning tourists are required to possess valid Namibian, Botswana or Zimbabwean export permits and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Certificates of Origin. Goods lacking such documentation will be automatically confiscated at the American entry points.

Another major regulatory change concerns the importation of live elephants from these three Southern African countries. Effective 18 September 1997 Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe are able to export live animals to the US under circumstances determined by those countries to be "appropriate and acceptable."

Due to the pent up demand from American zoos, this easing of US import regulations is expected to have a considerable effect on the foreign exchange earnings of the three countries concerned. Only 20 elephants have been born in captivity in the US in the last 100 years and American zoos are desperate to obtain new stocks to replenish their aging populations.

Sport hunting trophy importation into the United States is also covered in the comprehensive report. As of 18 September 1997, sport-hunted trophies from Africa are only permitted under three conditions. First, that they are imported for non-commercial reasons only. Second, that the US has reviewed each country's hunting program and found that it promotes conservation, and finally, that the African country from which the sports trophies are exported continues to submit an annual export quota to the CITES Secretariat.

In November 1998, South African press reports detailed the furore over 30 baby elephants captured for export by long time animal trapper Riccardo Ghiazza. Coincidentally, megastar pop idol Michael Jackson was undertaking an extended southern African business tour at the time. Revelations that the superstar had bought two elephants from Mr. Ghiazza in 1993 for his private Californian Neverland zoo - despite opposition by the US Humane Society - served to highlight the extent of Africa's animal trade with the United States.

Obtained from culling carried out in the Kruger National Park, the two elephants sold to Michael Jackson were part of 670 mammals and reptiles shipped to the United States in the last five years by Mr. Ghiazza's Pretoria based African Game Services business. All were destined for American animal traders, zoos, and the increasingly popular theme parks such as the new Disney Wildlife Park in Orlando, Florida.

Michael Jackson was not the only celebrity to be involved with this pivotal case. Comedian Richard Pryor, singer Chrissie Hinde and Britain's celebrated Spice Girls have all urged President Nelson Mandela to totally ban the export of live elephants from South Africa. A celebrity campaign to sway American public opinion against live animal imports is also planned for 1999.

The US Fish and Wildlife's African Elephant Conservation Act grant programme was enacted by the US Congress in October 1988. Under this program, fourteen projects throughout Africa have been funded to the tune of $920,396. Notable among these was the $193,000 allocated for the rehabilitation of anti-poaching forces in Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the $89,876 allocated to Zimbabwe for anti-poaching assistance and the $66,165 for a tracking study of the origin of elephant ivory in Tanzania. Of major interest is the fact that the African elephant population totalled some 615,806 animals in 1997, with Tanzania recording 98,179, Gabon 82,012 and Botswana 80,174. Senegal and Swaziland with only 20 elephants recorded were at the bottom of the list.

Rhino support projects under the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 are also detailed in the report. Allocating $400,000 for the purchase of equipment and supplies for 14 projects, the Fish and Wildlife department expects this amount to be doubled through private donations. According to surveys quoted in the 1998 report, less than 10,000 rhinos are left in the wild world-wide. Kenya, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the major recipients of this grant money to be administered by the World Wildlife Fund - East Africa Regional Program Office.

"We need a quick-strike capability to fend off the looming extinction of rhinos and tigers," said U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt in a foreword to the report. "Although modest, the grant money will go directly where it is needed most - to the local groups fighting on the front lines of this daunting conservation challenge."

Of considerable interest to conservationists are details of the US Fish and Wildlife's enforcement efforts to curb the smuggling of African endangered species. Detailing a three-year investigation that led to an indictment of six individuals, the report alleges a multi-year conspiracy to smuggle approximately 170 protected reptiles from Madagascar to the United States. The reptiles included the Madagascar tree boa, spider tortoise and radiated tortoise.

The most recent smuggling interdiction was at Orlando International Airport on 13 August 1996. This led to the arrest of South African Simon Harris who was found with 61 Madagascar tree boas and four spider tortoises in his personal baggage. The recipient of the reptiles, Wolfgang Kloe of Germany, was also arrested. According to US court records the smugglers sold at least 94 of the tree boas, 51 radiated tortoises and 25 spider tortoises worth some $120,000 over the three year investigation period.

The selling of African wildlife is a big and sophisticated business. The US Fish and Wildlife report reveals that the world-wide web is increasingly being used for much of the trade. Two Internet sites are specifically quoted: Strictly Reptile Incorporated of Hollywood sold 418 reptiles through its Internet site before being convicted on various counts; South African trapper Riccardo Ghiazza advertised his African Game Services on a sophisticated web site. Records show that 10 lions, 15 black-backed jackals and a considerable number of smaller mammals were sold by him using this technological medium. Before the site was shut down it advertised that African Game Services was "a leading player in the capture, relocation and exportation of wild African animals" with "thousands of animals, from rodents to elephants and from lions to giraffe being exported by African Game Services."

The protection and management of African marine resources received special attention from the US Fish and Wildlife Department in 1998. Designated as the International Year of The Ocean, 1998 saw increased efforts by US enforcement agencies to crack down on the smuggling of marine life and marine environment products.

While stepping up efforts to curb such smuggling, the federal agency and its partner US Customs Department emphasized that final responsibility for the protection of Africa's 200 mile 'Exclusive Economic Zones' primarily rests with the governments concerned.

Concluding its 1998 report, the US Fish and Wildlife Department invites submissions for grant proposals to be dispensed under the African Elephant Conservation Fund.

Proposals may be submitted by any African government agency, the CITES Secretariat, and any organization or individual with experience in African elephant conservation. While giving preference to proposals of $75,000 or less, higher amounts may be requested. Proposal outlines may be obtained directly from the US Fish and Wildlife Agency, International Division, Washington, or through US Embassy offices world-wide.

With $17m dispensed in the last 10 years, African conservationists can take heart from the US government's reaffirmation of its continuing support. "The grants will fund education projects designed to give the local African people the tools to save these magnificent creatures now and in the years to come," Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt concluded.

As it celebrates 25 years of success enforcing the Endangered Species Act the US Fish and Wildlife Department is looking to the future. Funding small local African projects designed to benefit the indigenous people living in the wildlife regions, the department reaffirms its support for programs which allow man and animal to live together to the lasting benefit of all concerned.