On November 19, 1997, President Clinton signed the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (Public Law No. 105-96) into law. Initiated by a team of conservation-minded organizations, including World Wildlife Fund, the American Zoological & Aquarium Association, The Smithsonian Institution and Ringling Bros.®, this Act assists in the conservation of Asian elephants and their habitat. By establishing public/private partnerships, Congress will appropriate financial resources to field conservation programs within the native range states of Asian elephants.

With the successful passage of the Asian Elephant Conservation Act, the United States has greatly expanded its ability to assist the survival of this species. Ringling Bros. has already participated in efforts to provide emergency veterinary care, supplies, equipment, elephant health care and management training to mahouts (elephant trainers) in Indonesia and Thailand.