Ivory Trade
latest news & developments
DNA surveys reveal far more African forest elephants than previously known
A new IUCN report shows African forest elephants are more numerous than previously believed, not due to recovery, but thanks to groundbreaking DNA-based surveys that have…
SADC members declare dispute with Cites, threaten to withdraw their membership
They argue that the international wildlife treaty is undermining sustainable use of species in the region such as elephants.
A notorious wildlife smuggler is finally behind bars
Moazu Kromah, aka ‘Kampala Man’, ran a wildlife trafficking syndicate in Africa and law enforcement authorities knew it. Why did it take so long to bring him to justice and what…
Reservations about ‘new deal’ for rhinos, lions, elephant, leopards
Draft policy promotes species playing their role in wilderness systems but one conservationist says leopards are being sold out
Paradigm shift as African countries throw their weight behind ivory ban
The EU and UK are fuelling the illegal trade through their continuing sale of legal ivory items
China’s ban on domestic ivory sales comes into force
One of the world’s biggest markets for African ivory, China announced that it would outlaw all domestic trade and processing by 2017
Corrupt officials to blame for illegal ivory trade, says Cites
Research shows that legal sale of ivory increased smuggling by 71%.
African countries still sharply divided over ivory trade
Stance on ivory trade in Africa is not unified, with some countries calling for a global ban although others are open to elephant ivory trade.
Outrage at Japan’s ivory sales
Yahoo sold sold an estimated 12 tonnes of elephant tusks and fashioned pieces of ivory on its Japanese auction site
Desire for power drives megadeath
Killing elephants and rhinos for even a part of their bodies wounds our humanity and lives.
Tanzania’s elephants under siege
Poaching linked to crime syndicates has seen 85 000 tuskers being slaughtered in five years.
Turning Africa’s Big 5 into hard cash
Lifting ivory and rhino horn trade bans could translate to an economic turnaround for Africa, where the black market for animal products is thriving.
Target the traders in ivory war
It is not only armed insurgent and rebel groups that fuel the slaughter of elephants, it is also greed.
Diplomatic indignation in ivory row
Tanzania claims the report about Chinese diplomats smuggling ivory was ‘cooked up’.
Chinese officials went on illegal ivory ‘buying sprees’
Officials who visited Tanzania with President Xi Jinping took advantage of the lack of security checks to buy large amounts of ivory, say activists.