Elephant Poaching
The illegal trade in elephant tusks, fuelled by continuing demand for ivory, drives elephant poaching, where elephants in the wild are ruthlessly shot and their tusks hacked out.According to the WWF, a new report issued under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) shows that illegal killing of elephants and illegal ivory trade continues to increase.
The report highlights China and Thailand as the two most important raw ivory consuming countries in the world, and indicates that poaching trends can be correlated to increasing affluence in China and tourist arrivals in Thailand.
To me it doesn't matter where the the demand's coming from -- I only wish those who are buying ivory trinkets, ivory jewellery, and other ornamentation carved from elephant tusks could be forced to spend a few hours close to dead elephants that've been shot by poachers and their faces butchered to remove the tusks.
Dead elephant, its tusks hacked out and its hide streaked with vulture droppings, lies in rigor mortis under the African sun after being shot by poachers in Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park.
Another dead elephant, shot at the same time and its tusks also hacked off by the poachers, lies nearby.
And for what? An ivory trinket or ivory carving (below).
For those living in the West, it's easy to become smug and blame the illegal ivory trade on China, Thailand and other Asian countries.
However, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has found a thriving trade in ivory items after a survey of websites in the UK, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and Germany.
"In just two weeks, our survey found more than 660 items with a total advertising value of almost ?650,000 across a variety of European websites. A shocking 98% of adverts failed to comply with website policies of providing evidence of legality," said Kelvin Alie, director of IFAW's prevention of Illegal Wildlife Trade Programme.
"Europeans must realise that what they see as a pretty trinket for sale online is just one facet of an ongoing war against cruelty and for the protection of biodiversity. In Kenya, and across most African range states, elephants are ruthlessly slaughtered by poachers to fuel the illegal ivory trade," Alie continued.
"Any trade in ivory provides a cover for and encourages elephant poaching and illegal trade in ivory. The war on illegal ivory trade and elephant poaching can only be won by removing elephant ivory not just from international trade, but entirely from the global marketplace, " he said.
In 2007 eBay, under pressure from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, banned all international sales of elephant-ivory products. But sadly that's not the case in my own country, where Bid-or-buy.com, a South African online auction site, still lists hundreds of ivory items for sale.
As those advocating a total ban on ivory sales point out, if ivory had no commercial value, there would be little incentive for anyone to kill elephants for their tusks and one of the major threats to their survival would disappear.
So please don't buy ivory of any kind, and tell your friends and family not to buy ivory, especially when travelling in Thailand or South East Asia.
(To supplement my previous blog, this blog shows graphic images of the carcasses of the slaughtered animals.)
(grateful acknowledgement to Scotch Macaskill)
Comments (19)
noble animal, slaughtered for self indulgence. Same as the Bears
killed in this country for their organs. It is the end user that
should be shot for creating the demand. imo.
What about the skin of animals who are skinned alive so that women could wear fur coats?
I have already written a few blogs about animal cruelty.
I figure some drastic measures should be taken to come to the aid of Elephants, To the sellers, buyers, and poachers of ivory.
Maybe if some of these low lifes were made example off, it would bring more attention to the plight of Elephants.
All the countries of the world have to make an effort to stop the cruelty towards Elephants, and it starts with people knowing the plight of the Elephant.
Thanks for a Good Article Socrates,
I agree with the gist of your last sentence. The focus should be on the end user.
In my previous blog on "Wildlife Wars", I posted this response to a comment:
"Looking at the issue from the viewpoint of supply and demand, if persons who purchase ivory carvings and other ivory products could connect with the fact of the wanton slaughter of the animals and view their rotting carcasses, this may discourage their purchasing these products, and have a negative effect on the supply. This, in turn, may discourage the poaching and slaughter."
I was not aware that those animals whose skins are used as fur coats for women, are skinned alive.
That is indeed a most extreme form of cruelty.
One not touched on question. How many of the buyers are of ethnic white blood, and how many are immigrants from the other countries you mentioned?
I ask because in America those few I know of who seek ivory or bear gall bladders or or tiger dust or similar, very few of them are of European ancestry. Sometime I think immigration here should require a written and interview test to eliminate the superstitious or ignorant.
Noting also Mammoth ivory is prettier and involves killing nothing.
"...the god almighty dollar is killing off the Mighty Elephants."
"All the countries of the world have to make an effort to stop the cruelty towards Elephants, and it starts with people knowing the plight of the Elephant."
I agree with your comment 100%.
I sincerely hope that the pictures posted will be a wake up call and help others to realize the tragic situation that is facing those "Majestic Animals" who are helpless in the circumstances.
Glad you appreciate the article. Thanks!
"How many of the buyers are of ethnic white blood, and how many are immigrants from the other countries you mentioned?"
I suppose it would require a special survey to answer the question you posed.
However, the article also mentions:
"The report highlights China and Thailand as the two most important raw ivory consuming countries in the world, and indicates that poaching trends can be correlated to increasing affluence in China and tourist arrivals in Thailand."
I fully appreciate your point about "mammoth ivory".
Makes no sense to me, but if there is a market, there will be someone supplying it.
If everyone thought like you with regard to buying ivory products, then there will be no need for the wanton slaughter of the elephants.
The elephants would certainly applaud you for your position.
Cloning ivory is a very good suggestion.
However, I am wondering if it can be produced synthetically similar to rubber.
Synthetic rubber has definite advantages, in terms of strength, etc., over natural rubber which was "bled" from trees.
Socrates, there are already synthetic ivories. The issue is the superstitious fools who believe only real ivory will cure impotence, battle cancers, chase spirits, etc.
Chicken meat can and is being grown in vats (experimentally). Something similar will work for ivory, if someone cares enough to spend a few bucks to get the ball rolling.
Farming elephants may be a good idea. However, it may be a very costly project.
I do not see how efforts to deal with the poaching problem has any relation to the hungry children and poverty problem. They are two separate issues.
I fully appreciate your concern for all animals and I am sure that they also appreciate it. Thanks for your concern.