There is an unprecedented increase in the illegal poaching of elephants and rhinos in Africa and parts of Indonesia. The elephant death rate from poaching throughout Africa is higher than the rate that led to the international ivory trade ban. If trends continue, there won't be any elephants left in the wild.
We implore the United States government to provide aid and technical assistance to African and Southeast Asian governments to pursue illegal poachers. We also call on the Obama administration to demand that our trade partners, China, Japan, the Philippines, etc unambiguously enforce the ban on ivory, as well as step up enforcement in the U.S.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731140219.htm
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/09/orphan-elephants/poaching-update