On Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12th, Fresno Chaffee Zoo partnered with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to host a Toss the Tusk event in the Central Valley. This two-day event provided an outlet for the local community to learn about the illegal ivory trade and even surrender their own animal products with no questions asked.
Toss the Tusk also celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Assembly Bill 96, which banned the sale of ivory and rhino horn in California. AB 96 strengthened the authority and ability of CDFW to combat illegal wildlife trafficking that threatens global biodiversity and encourages the poaching of endangered species.
Booths were stationed in front of the Zoo for anyone looking to surrender their wildlife products. CDFW received items including fur, jewelry, antiques, and carvings made from ivory. By surrendering these products to CDFW, the potential for these items to ever re-enter the illicit market has been completely eliminated.
Collected items can also become beneficial tools, used by CDFW for education, training, and research purposes. The items surrendered may be used by law enforcement agencies to teach staff and K-9s how to detect illegal ivory shipments in the future. The products are also used to collect data, as researchers can test the items to find information about their species and origin and get context that could be vital in shaping conservation efforts for wildlife.
Events like these are vital to the Zoo’s mission to inspire people to care for animals, create connections, build community, and save wildlife. Those who surrendered their products directly helped contribute to conservation and guests that attended the Zoo that day had the opportunity to get involved and learn about the consequences of the illegal ivory trade.
There were educational chats around the Zoo that focused on the conservation of threatened species, a screening of a video produced by CDFW that tells the story of AB 96, and a press conference held on Saturday with remarks from Fresno Chaffee Zoo Director and CEO, Jon Forrest Dohlin, as well as CDFW Assistant Chief and Head of Special Operations, Nathan Smith. Guests who took the time to attend any one of these activities throughout the Zoo were able to directly interact with CDFW staff to learn about the important work they do right here in Fresno.
“CDFW thanks all of the Fresno-area residents who came out to the Toss the Tusk event at Fresno Chaffee Zoo,” said Smith. “Those who surrendered wildlife products are doing their part to help us in our mission to stop wildlife trafficking that is very much taking place across California, including in the Central Valley. We are grateful to also have had the opportunity to connect with the community to educate and spread the word about our work to protect not just wildlife in this state, but wildlife around the world.”
Education is often the first step towards conservation. Fresno Chaffee Zoo is proud to be a place in the Central Valley where the public can come to see and learn about wildlife from all over the world.