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Mail & Guardian

Ivory Trade

latest news & developments
There are far more African forest elephants than conservationists previously thought — not because the critically endangered species is recovering, but because scientists are now able to count them more accurately.

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…

Photo: Supplied

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…

At risk: South Africa, home to the world’s largest population of rhino, is critical to the conservation of this species, which are targeted by poachers. (Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images)

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

Antique ivory – defined as pre-1947 worked ivory – is an exception and can be traded in the UK and EU.

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

Mark Shuttleworth.

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%.

Former National Intelligence Agency head Gibson Njenje and others pushed for an investigation into ‘undue influence’.

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.

Kill-off: An elephant hard hit by poaching rests in a marsh. The flow of ivory to international black markets is along smuggling routes through Dar es Salaam and other ports.

Tanzania’s elephants under siege

Poaching linked to crime syndicates has seen 85 000 tuskers being slaughtered in five years.

While the rejection of once-off sales might please the animal rights groups who claim to be protecting the elephants from poachers. Photo: Supplied

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.

Spoils: Almost four tonnes of elephant tusks were found

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.