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General Gorilla Causes Clinton Signs Great Ape Conservation Bill Into Law U.S. Newswire 3 Nov 2000 9:57 President Clinton Signs Great Ape Conservation Bill Into Law To: Political Reporter Contact: Wayne Pacelle, 202-778-6112 Howard White, 301-258-3072. Both of the Humane Society of the United States WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by the Humane Society of the United States: With one stroke of the pen, the great apes of the world have a better chance at survival. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) today commended President Clinton for signing into law H.R. 4320, the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000, that will provide critically needed funding for conservation programs designed to protect chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans. The President signed the bill into law on November 1. -- "We thank President Clinton for recognizing the importance of protecting these magnificent animals, and for taking action to curb the effects of poaching and habitat destruction the great apes face today," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS Senior Vice President. "With enactment of the Great Ape Conservation Act, we hope the tide toward extinction will turn and the great apes of the world will have a fighting chance to flourish again." The bill authorizes $5 million in annual U.S. aid to support conservation and protection of the great apes by allocating grants to local wildlife management authorities and other organizations in Africa and Asia dedicated to protecting the apes and their habitat. The measure has received strong international support from Dr. Jane Goodall and a number of animal protection groups including The Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, The Fund for Animals and the Doris Day Animal League. All four types of great apes are listed as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act and under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Although habitat destruction is the major threat to great ape populations, unregulated hunting and the international bushmeat trade pose an even greater threat in many areas. Hunting for commercial trade in bushmeat is decimating populations of endangered and threatened wildlife, including the great apes. While national laws prohibit the hunting of great apes in most cases, forestry and wildlife officials often lack the basic resources required for enforcement. Funding obtained through the Great Ape Conservation Act could bolster projects aimed at strengthening law enforcement and provide necessary resources and training for park officials in Africa and Asia. The legislation was championed in Congress by Representative George Miller (D-CA/7th) and Senator Jim Jeffords (R-VT). The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 7.3 million members and constituents. For more information on the plight of the great apes and other issues, visit The HSUS Web site at http://www.hsus.org and http://www.animalchannel.net. |
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