Meryl Streep Hopes Chris Christie will Help Protect Endangered Animals

Acclaimed actress Meryl Streep has teamed up with New Jersey lawmakers to try to help rhinos and elephants.

The Legislature on Monday sent Governor Christie a bill that would ban the sale, purchase, or possession of ivory and rhinoceros horn.

As reported at philly.com, the actress is hoping Christie will come to the defense of the animals.

"As a New Jersey native, I was delighted to learn from my friends at the Humane Society of the United States that our state could be the first in the country to enact a ban on the importation and sale of ivory - a product of horrific cruelty to elephants and rhinos, who could very well become extinct within decades if we don't act now," said Streep, originally from Summit, Union County.

Streep isn't the first celebrity to lobby Christie on an animal-rights issue.

In 2013, Martha Stewart urged Christie to sign a bill that would ban the use of gestation crates for pregnant pigs, a cruel part of the meat industry.

Unfortunately, Christie vetoed the bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (D., Union), who is also a sponsor of the elephant/rhino legislation.