Some exciting news from the USA this week: California has become the third state, joining New York and New Jersey, to ban the trade of ivory within in the state. California's new law bans all sale, offer for sale, possession with intent to sell, and importation with intent to sell of elephant, mammoth, narwhal, whale, walrus and hippo ivory, along with rhinoceros horn.  These international decisions, made and implemented thousands of miles from the nearest wild elephant, do much to raise our spirits here in Africa and ensure the continuing survival of the beautiful animal pictured here.