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Japan Tiger Elephant Organization

News and Resources

Upcoming Events *Spring 2020*
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Due to the current CoVid19 spread in Japan, some of these events might be cancelled. Please check back before the event for more information or contact the event host to find out the latest. Please take care… The JTEF Staff 🐘 Kanazawa Zoo Fundraising Event March 20 ❤“Snack Time for Elephants”❤  visitors can give a snack to the Kanazawa Zoo’s elephant, JTEF will have a fundraising booth at the zoo.   (1 volunteer needed) Official time for event to be announced…probably 10:30AM – 3PM Share our FB event:　https://www.facebook.com/events/777387236092518 Closest station: Kanazawa Bunko (Keikyu Line) Plus, you will need an additional 20 mins by bus and walking to get to event area. 　 🌸Spring Love 2020 KeenFest At Yoyogi Park Mar 28 ・ 29 (Sat:…

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REPORTS: JTEF published “Emerging Problems Tarnish the Modest Progress on Protecting OUV of Iriomote Island”
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10/10/2019 JTEF and Yamaneko Patrol published a review on the nomination made by the government of Japan in January, 2019 of Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, the northern part of Okinawa Island and Iriomote Island for inscription on the World Heritage List. This report was developed for consideration by the experts of IUCN verification mission, ahead of their on-the-spot verification tour to Iriomote Island on October 11, 2019.

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Decision by Yahoo! Japan to End Ivory Sales Celebrated by Elephant Advocates
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Geneva, Switzerland Elephant advocates are celebrating reports that Yahoo! Japan, the world’s largest internet ivory retailer, has decided to end sales of elephant ivory on its platforms by November 1st, 2019. The decision was based on evidence that ivory purchased on Yahoo! was being exported illegally to China, according to inside sources. It comes on the last day of the global wildlife trade conference in Geneva where Japan’s domestic ivory market has been in the spotlight with a growing chorus of countries calling for its immediate closure. “This is great news for elephants,” said Danielle Grabiel, Wildlife Team Lead for the Washington, DC and London, UK based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). “Yahoo has recognized what the Government of Japan still denies: Japan’s…

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World Elephant Day Tokyo Aug 12
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Aug 12 is World Elephant Day!  We will have an event for JTEF and Our Partners The Ueno Zoo! From 6:30PM, JTEF President Kumi Togawa, will have an discussion with the Ueno Zookeepers about the latest updates regarding wild elephants. Additionally, fundraising merchandise for JTEF will be sold by YUI from 3PM, with a Zookeeper talk happening at 5PM in front of the Elephant Exhibit. There are two species of elephants in the world, African and Asian elephants. The population of Asian elephants is 46,000-49,000 living in the wild in 13 different countries. Up to 60% of the world population (27,000 individuals) can be found in India. India is the only country that has the expansive area needed as a natural…

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Press Release: One Year Out from 2020 Tokyo Games, NGOs Appeal to Tokyo Governor to End Ivory Trade
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July 25, 2019: TOKYO Tokyo, Japan – One year before the start of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games, international and Japanese conservation organizations are appealing to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike to ban the sale of ivory in the city. Japan boasts the world’s largest legal domestic ivory market; its ongoing support for an industry that fuels the poaching of an estimated 20,000 African elephants each year threatens to tarnish the reputation of Tokyo and the 2020 Games. The Environmental Investigation Agency US, Humane Society International, WildAid, Japan Tiger and Elephant Fund and Tears of the African Elephant urge the Governor to support international efforts to conserve and protect Africa’s rapidly declining elephant population by closing the ivory market in Tokyo…

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BLOG: Council of Elders of the 32-member African Elephant Coalition (AEC) calls on Japan to close its ivory market
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June 17, 2019: The African Elephant Coalition (AEC) comprising 32 African countries and the majority of African elephant range states (28) made a press release that AEC Council of Elders called on the government of Japan to close its ivory market, among the world’s largest, and support stronger protection of Africa’s elephants. “We’re calling on Japan to follow the example of China and close its domestic ivory market. We believe that doing so will strengthen Japan’s international conservation image ahead of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics”, said Azizou El Hadj Issa, Chairman of the AEC’s Council of Elders, in his letters to Taro Kono, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yoshiaki Harada the Minister of Environment and Hiroshige Seko, the Minister…

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Join Our Fundraiser To Support Tiger, Elephant & Iriomote Cat Conservation!
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July 6(Sat) Doors open 5:30, Event Starts 6 PM Location：Beer Station Ebisu. 2 Flr (JR Ebisu Station, East Exit. Take the moving walkway 5 mins to Ebisu Garden Place) Cost：6,000 Yen (Including the 5,000 yen buffet and proceeds to benefit the NPO JTEF) Live Guest Performance： Angela Raga, a traditional Indian dance instructor and a Bollywood Dance Performer Enjoy the ‘Beer Station Ebisu’ as it has just been reopened after being renovated and you can enjoy the buffet and all you can drink menu, while getting to know other JTEF supporters. It is a really fun-filled evening! ★Great Raffle Prizes awarded to donors  (Prizes are Donations from JTEF Supporters) ★We will have sales of fundraising items such as Tshirts and Cloth Ecobags…

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BLOG: Annoyance sparking ivory dealers sneering at the “tightening” ivory whole tusk registration from July 1st
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June 7, 2019, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MoE) announced their “plan to tighten the examination on applications for ivory whole tusk registration”. https://www.env.go.jp/press/106849.html Domestic ivory trade in Japan is controlled by the “Law for Conservation of Endangered Species” (LCES). The key of the controls is the regulation “prohibiting transferring or receiving ivory without registration”. However, the regulated “ivory” is limited to “tusks maintaining their whole shape”. Ivory cut pieces and products not maintaining the original silhouette like a crescent can be traded without registration. But, in other words, is it true ivory trade has been effectively regulated as long as whole tusks are concerned? That’s not true, also. Needless to say, some legal requirements for allowing registration are set…

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