The poaching of wild animals in Africa has reached apocalyptic proportions. Elephants and rhinos will being wiped out in a handful of years at the current rate of kill. One species of black rhino has been officially declared extinct just this week.
The only way to bear pressure on the illegal trade of animals horns and other parts, such as shark fin and tiger teeth, is to strike both the barrel and the iron. On one hand destroy as much cache as can be found, on the other appeal to countries like China to do its own policing and reduce demand.
One of the first moves from the US, was to order the incineration of 6 tonnes of ivory, mostly already carved into jewelry and other carving renditions. The stockpile is not new. It is the result of seizures effected during the quarter century. The stockpile is the result of 2,000 elephants deaths. But the decision was made now to send a message to the trader that blood ivory will not be tolerated.
The Born Free Foundation, which monitors the illegal trade of ivory has estimated that at least 32,000 elephants were killed last year alone. The ivory has now reached 1000 Euro per pound. At this rate, all elephants might very well be extinct within the decade.
But will this be enough? Just like the drug trade, the trade of ivory is a partnership that cannot be unchained until the demand is stopped. And that might be impossible to do, at least until China and other countries where the ivory ultimately lands, effect their measures and own up to their role in the lethal and shameful trade.
Partial Source : Al Jazeera/ 11.14.13
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