Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§4261 Findings

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 62A— - ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION › § 4261

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Congress says Asian elephants are in serious danger and their wild numbers have fallen so much that their long-term survival is at risk. They are listed as endangered under section 1533 and under appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and current resources have not been enough to stop habitat loss. Major threats are habitat loss and fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, poaching for ivory and body parts, and capture for domestication. Saving them will require countries where they live, the United States, other nations, and the private sector to work together.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §4261

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

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 1533 of this title 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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

of 2007 Amendment Pub. L. 110–133, § 1, Dec. 6, 2007, 121 Stat. 1362, provided that: “This Act [amending section 4264 and 4266 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2007’.”

Short Title

of 2002 Amendment Pub. L. 107–141, § 1, Feb. 12, 2002, 116 Stat. 13, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 4265a of this title, amending section 3709, 4214, 4245, 4246, 4263, 4265, and 4266 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 4214 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2002’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 105–96, § 1, Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2150, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997’.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 4261

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73