Biden administration tightens rules on African elephant imports, stops short of total ban

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided. Having trouble? Click here.

The Biden administration strengthened protections for African elephants, but stopped short of issuing a total ban on imports of hunting trophies and live animals, to the disappointment of wildlife activists.

In an announcement late last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized restrictions on elephants imported to the U.S. under the Endangered Species Act, which it said would aid the long-term conservation and survival of elephants in the wild. Prominent wildlife activist organizations have called for the agency to go further and ban such imports altogether.

"The Service values collaborative conservation of wildlife all around the world and is committed to improving implementation of international conservation law," FWS Director Martha Williams said. "Our actions today will help support range countries’ efforts to manage and conserve African elephant populations and will further protect African elephants that are imported to the United States."

She added that FWS would continue to work with African nations to ensure the sustainable management of elephant populations.

AS GRAY WOLVES TERRORIZE FARMS AND RANCHES, GOP LAWMAKERS DEMAND ENDANGERED SPECIES DELISTING

Under the finalized regulations, live African elephants, African elephant sport hunting trophies (such as tusks, hides, feet