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California's ban on alligator and crocodile products should already be in effect, but a federal court ruling just overturned it. Urge the state's attorney general to challenge this!

California has had a ban on the import and sale of alligator and crocodile parts and products since 1970 over concerns that alligators and other crocodilian species were being threatened with extinction, but exemptions have been made since 2006 that continued to allow it.

That was set to change on January 1, 2020, but multiple bills were introduced to stop it, and the state of Louisiana, along with companies in California, Florida, and Texas, sued over the decision to implement the ban claiming it would hurt the industry and alligator and crocodile populations.

In March, a federal judge ruled in their favor, concluding that California can't preempt federal law by banning the import and sale of alligator and crocodile products. The decision was partially spurred by a recent change the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made related to state regulation of sales and transfers of American alligators.

Although American alligators have made a comeback, they're still listed as threatened because of their similar appearance to the American crocodile, whose members are listed as threatened in the U.S. and endangered elsewhere in the world, while things aren't looking so good for other crocodilian species who are threatened with extinction.

All of them are also listed under Appendix I or II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) because it's been recognized that global trade poses a serious threat.

Aside from that, the trade is also incredibly cruel and hundreds of thousands of these sentient beings pay the price for the demand for exotic skins; they're confined, crowded together, and violently slaughtered. According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, farmers in the state killed 438,577 alligators in 2019 alone.

California should stand its ground and challenge this ruling to ensure the state isn't complicit in further harm to these species as individuals and populations.

States with alligator farms and ranches should find a more altruistic reason for conserving this species, other than simply exploiting them for financial gain.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Please Challenge the Court Ruling on California’s Alligator and Crocodile Skins Sales Ban

As someone who’s concerned with animal welfare, I’m writing to express my disappointment in the recent ruling that preempts California’s ban on alligator and crocodile products and hope your office will challenge it.
 
The state’s original ban was intended to protect the American alligator and other crocodilian species. While American alligators have bounced back, they’re still listed as threatened because of their similar appearance to the American crocodile, whose members are listed as threatened in the U.S. and endangered elsewhere in the world, while things aren’t looking so good for other crocodilian species whose members are threatened with extinction.
 
All of them are also listed under Appendix I or II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) because it’s been recognized that the global trade in these animals poses a serious threat to their survival.
 
As we face a massive loss of biodiversity, concrete steps should be taken to protect wildlife, and not for the sake of further exploitation and economic gain.
 
Aside from that, the trade is also incredibly cruel and hundreds of thousands of these sentient beings pay the price for the demand for exotic skins; they’re confined, crowded together, and violently slaughtered. According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, farmers in the state killed 438,577 alligators in 2019 alone.  
 
I sincerely hope your office will challenge the district court ruling, and work to ensure California isn’t complicit in further harming these animals. Thank you for your consideration of this important and timely matter.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.