New US Ban on Sale of Elephant Ivory

Ah... Thanks Mark. I guess I missed that, even though I did make an attempt to read the entire document. :)
 
After being in the hunting industry since literally the day I was born. Cutting many lb of ivory for the last 20 years. Around half dz hunter's a year for many year hunting Africa. Raised around one of the biggest pool cue business in the U.S. Yet to see or hear of a illegal tusk. What a political joke! I would think are Government would have more important problem to hash at this time.
 
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I have contacted Wildaid to discuss the prospect of us making a donation of $5000.00 to them and working with them to help stop the poaching of elephants in Africa. I was politely told they do not want our help or our money.

The other two organizations I'm considering working with, Knife Rights and The Ivory Education Institute, both delve into the political side of things so in order to have a raffle to raise money for them, we would need to start a separate non-profit. Its looking like a non-profit with tax exempt status is not going to be able to help us raise money for any political projects.
 
Lycosa said:
Just don't buy it. Period.
Another elephant was killed today.
rolf
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In case you haven't been paying attention, we (Americans) haven't been buying it, poached elephant ivory. That's what my whole point and has been from the beginning. Instead of squabbling over laws over here in the US, we should be working together to fix the problem in Africa.

Are you going to completely disregard all we have been talking about for a month.

If all you want to do, is not buy it, you are not going to save any elephants.
 
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To "all" people, don't buy it.
I have seen more knives with ivory on them for sale lately.
 
Lycosa said:
To "all" people, don't buy it.
I have seen more knives with ivory on them for sale lately.
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You have seen more knives for sale with ivory on them because the US it trying to ban the sale of them.

While your heart is in the right place, your thoughts are short sighted. Like I said before, if all you are going to do is "not buy it" you are not going to save any elephants.
 
Mark- Thank you.
I do hope for the best for the elephants and any other animals in this situation but this does not look like it's going to be a happy ending for the elephants.
I have said my piece.
Carry on.
rolf
 
Lycosa said:
Mark- Thank you.
I do hope for the best for the elephants and any other animals in this situation but this does not look like it's going to be a happy ending for the elephants.
I have said my piece.
Carry on.
rolf
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Hi Rolf, It can be a happy situation, we (humans) have been successful in many endeavors. All we have to do is want it bad enough, and work together. I am more optimistic, I guess.

I wish you the best, but I wish people would actually want to DO something other than just speak their minds.

Thanks, regards, Mark
 
I wouldn't buy any poached a$$ ivory in the first place. In fact I thought this was already banned a long time ago.....
 
Elephant ivory has been regulated for import. If a hunter goes to one of the African countries that allow hunting they can import the tusks. There are several countries that have a great conservation program that allows for hunting and the populations have increased dramatically.

Ivory that was harvested and documented prior to the "ban" could be used for whatever the owner of the documented ivory desired. This is where most of the pool cues, knife handles and other products have come from. A copy of the documentation should accompany the item. Yes there are a few that have probably used poached ivory. It is almost impossible for the layman to tell the difference. This is the ivory that will be affected by this ban.

It is funny how the countries that have an active hunting program have heard numbers increasing and very little poaching. While those that have outlawed it see them declining and rampant poaching. You can take that for what it is worth.
 
Mark Knapp said:
I have contacted Wildaid to discuss the prospect of us making a donation of $5000.00 to them and working with them to help stop the poaching of elephants in Africa. I was politely told they do not want our help or our money.

The other two organizations I'm considering working with, Knife Rights and The Ivory Education Institute, both delve into the political side of things so in order to have a raffle to raise money for them, we would need to start a separate non-profit. Its looking like a non-profit with tax exempt status is not going to be able to help us raise money for any political projects.
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Mark,
if you don't mind? How did you approach wildaid about this donation? From what group did you say the money was coming from that they wanted nothing to do with?
 
Mark Knapp said:
I have contacted Wildaid to discuss the prospect of us making a donation of $5000.00 to them and working with them to help stop the poaching of elephants in Africa. I was politely told they do not want our help or our money.

The other two organizations I'm considering working with, Knife Rights and The Ivory Education Institute, both delve into the political side of things so in order to have a raffle to raise money for them, we would need to start a separate non-profit. Its looking like a non-profit with tax exempt status is not going to be able to help us raise money for any political projects.
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Typical of such groups not seeing the forest thru the trees

Good on you to try Mark
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
Mark,
if you don't mind? How did you approach wildaid about this donation? From what group did you say the money was coming from that they wanted nothing to do with?
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Hi Laurence, I told them I was trying to start an organization that was dedicated to the preservation of elephants. That the group would be made up of craftsmen that follow the law, use only legally imported pre-ban ivory. I said my goal was to raise $5,000.00 for their work, encourage everyone to join their' organization and sign their pledge to not knowingly use parts from illegally taken game. I asked if she thought they could work with a group like that.

I think it's still a good idea to support them, I just wish I didn't have to be a closet "ivory guy" to donate to their' cause.

Talk to you later, Mark
 
A C Richards said:
It is funny how the countries that have an active hunting program have heard numbers increasing and very little poaching. While those that have outlawed it see them declining and rampant poaching. You can take that for what it is worth.
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This is a easy way to see a direct correlation between the two. It would be interesting to see a list of countries that allow elephant hunting and countries most affected by poaching. Does anyone have this information?
 
Mark Knapp said:
I have contacted Wildaid to discuss the prospect of us making a donation of $5000.00 to them and working with them to help stop the poaching of elephants in Africa. I was politely told they do not want our help or our money.

The other two organizations I'm considering working with, Knife Rights and The Ivory Education Institute, both delve into the political side of things so in order to have a raffle to raise money for them, we would need to start a separate non-profit. Its looking like a non-profit with tax exempt status is not going to be able to help us raise money for any political projects.
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Mark,

Let's talk. ;) Please contact me via email to dritter@kniferights.org. I am in D.C. in meetings on and off all week, so may not be able to reply immediately, depending.
 
Mark Knapp said:
Hi Laurence, I told them I was trying to start an organization that was dedicated to the preservation of elephants. That the group would be made up of craftsmen that follow the law, use only legally imported pre-ban ivory. I said my goal was to raise $5,000.00 for their work, encourage everyone to join their' organization and sign their pledge to not knowingly use parts from illegally taken game. I asked if she thought they could work with a group like that.

I think it's still a good idea to support them, I just wish I didn't have to be a closet "ivory guy" to donate to their' cause.

Talk to you later, Mark
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Mark,
From many YEARS of telephone work I can say you were most likely talking to someone that could say no, but couldn't or wouldn't say yes because of a personal emotional response and most likely was just a volunteer answering the phone.

Did you ask for a higher up manager or "Coordinator" of fund raising? Ask who the big cheese regarding FUND RAISING around there is and discuss this with them. Just a suggestion for you when soliciting anything by telephone.
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
Mark,
From many YEARS of telephone work I can say you were most likely talking to someone that could say no, but couldn't or wouldn't say yes because of a personal emotional response and most likely was just a volunteer answering the phone.

Did you ask for a higher up manager or "Coordinator" of fund raising? Ask who the big cheese regarding FUND RAISING around there is and discuss this with them. Just a suggestion for you when soliciting anything by telephone.
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Thanks Laurence, I think you are probably right, I was thinking the same thing. That will be my next move. Thanks again.
 
This is a good article from the Wall Street Journal, March 3 2014. It explains a little bit about what we have been talking about.

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