A DECADE OF CALIFORNIA’S AB 96 CUTS OFF ILLICIT IVORY AND RHINO HORN TRADE

Ten years after California enacted Assembly Bill 96—banning the sale of ivory and rhino horn statewide—the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is demonstrating how state-level law enforcement makes a massive global impact. As the most populous state in the U.S. and a critical hub for international commerce, California’s landmark legislation shut down major domestic markets that previously drove demand for illegal poaching abroad.

Authored in 2015 to honor the estimated 96 elephants killed daily by poachers at the time, AB 96 closed a longstanding legal loophole that permitted the sale of “pre-1977” ivory—a claim that was nearly impossible for law enforcement to verify in the field.

A DECADE OF IMPACT & ENFORCEMENT ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Over 5,000 Pounds Seized: CDFW wildlife officers have removed more than 5,000 lbs of ivory and rhino horn products from the black market, including a single Southern California art gallery seizure valued at over $1.3 million.

• 60+ Criminal Networks Dismantled: Officers have broken up more than 60 international trafficking syndicates. Investigations repeatedly show that ivory rings are tied to broader convergent crimes, including illegal firearms, animal fighting, and exotic pet trafficking.

• Forensic Hotspot Tracking: Seized specimens are processed at CDFW’s Wildlife Forensics Laboratory. DNA analysis pinpoints exact geographic origins and poaching hotspots in Africa and Asia, aiding global intelligence sharing.

• Extending Protections via AB 1319: Building on AB 96’s success, California passed Assembly Bill 1319 in 2025, aligning state enforcement directly with federal and CITES regulations to crack down on the illegal trade of native and exotic species.

• Public Engagement (“Toss the Tusk” ): Partnerships with the Oakland Zoo and Fresno Chaffee Zoo allowed citizens to surrender over 300 inherited or owned ivory items, permanently preventing them from entering illicit commercial streams.

COMMEMORATIVE FILM & VIRTUAL EVENT

To mark this 10-year milestone, CDFW is hosting a virtual premiere of its documentary short, “Not for Sale: 10 Years of AB 96 and California’s Fight to Stop Wildlife Trafficking,” hosted by CNRA Secretary Wade Crowfoot and CDFW Director Meghan Hertel on October 5 at 3:00 p.m. PST via Zoom.

ELIMINATING DEMAND TO SAVE SPECIES

Dismantling illegal markets in consumer countries is just as vital as protecting wildlife on the ground. When consumer hubs close their doors to poached commodities, international syndicates lose their profitability, giving threatened species the breathing room they need to recover.