Here’s to China for the Elephants!
Today, China destroyed some of the stockpiles of illegal elephant ivory seized along and within its borders.
In accordance with CITES* Decisions, the traders accredited by the Chinese government bought, at auctions, 60 tonnes of ivory in 2008 from 4 countries in southern Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. The average price was 157 US$/kg, ten times less expensive than black market rates at the time. Following this 172 workshops and retail stores were supplied elephant tusks benefiting from a specific license.
Secret Tusks
Today, the United States destroyed 5.4 tons of ivory that has been seized over the last 25 years by authorities enforcing national and international regulations. An official notification has been sent to the secretariat of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). The United States hopes that other states will also destroy their illegal ivory stockpiles.
They cannot count on France to do so. In a recent letter to Robin des Bois, the Minister of Ecology expressed his belief that countries undertaking the willful destruction of ivory seizures are emphasizing symbolic and high-profile action at the expense of actual substantive measures. In addition, the Ministry of Ecology refuses, “for security reasons”, to publicize an inventory of the stock of illegal ivory held by the French State and the museums of Natural History.
Obama, Hollande and Elephants
Since early September the United States announced that they would carry out on October 8 the destruction of 5.4 tonnes of illegal ivory confiscated over the last 25 years on their soil. This destruction is in line with an Executive Order by President Obama on July 1, 2013 on Combating Wildlife Trafficking. In this light the United States has launched a national and international programme aimed at stopping “slaughter commissioned by armed and organized criminal Syndicates.” This constitutes a formidable task.
India Burns Smuggled Ivory. And France?
Today, the state of Maharashtra will burn precious animal materials that have been seized by anti-poaching organizations. The leopard and tiger fur that was priced at about €12,000 a piece, along with the tusks of ivory that are sold on the black market from €1,500/kg for up to €5,500/kg, will be completely destroyed.
The state of Kerala is getting ready to do the same with their stock of 3 tons of ivory that has been seized over the past 20 years.
The Indian authorities will be taking advantage of the widespread presence of spectators to raise awareness, thereby doubling their efforts in the fight against environmental crime by enforcing both International regulations and Indian law for the protection of animals.
