The conservation group TRAFFIC says that by “A conservative estimate of the weight of ivory seized in the 13 largest seizures in 2011 puts the figure at more than 23 tonnes, a figure that probably represents some 2,500 elephants, possibly more.”
International Ban on Ivory
For centuries ivory from elephant tusks was used to make piano keys and billiard balls, but its primary function was as a medium for carving. It has been particularly valued artistically and decoratively in China.
But, elephant poaching solely for the harvesting of tusks threatened the extinction of these magnificent beasts. They had already been wiped out in North Africa and the Middle East in ancient times, and their populations in Africa were in serious decline.
Conservationists began a campaign to put an end to the slaughter and an article in the British Journal of Criminology (BJC) notes that, “The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species secured an agreement in 1989 among its member states to ban the international trade in ivory.”
Mixed Results from Ivory Ban
According to the World Wildlife Fund, “No one knows for sure, but it has been estimated that there were about 1.2 million African elephants in the late 1970s, but probably fewer than 500,000 remain today.”
The conservation group adds that prior to the 1989 ban the “combined legal and illegal ivory exports from Africa averaged 670 metric tons annually. In peak years, this was the equivalent of about 75,000 elephants, far more than the elephant populations could replace in a single year.”
Lemieux and Clarke in the BJC state that Africa’s “overall population of elephants increased after the ban” in ivory trading. However, data from 1979 to 2007 found that some of the 37 countries in Africa with elephants continued to lose substantial numbers of them.”
Trade in Ivory Appears to be Booming
The 2011 report from TRAFFIC says there were a record number of seizures of illegal ivory during the year, leading to speculation there has been an increase in the level of trade.
Just prior to Christmas 2011, 727 ivory pieces were found in a container at the Kenyan port of Mombasa; they were destined for Asia. Other large seizures have been made in other ports on the east African coast.
Michelle Faul of Associated Press reports on another case in December 2011 in which, “Malaysian authorities seized hundreds of African elephant tusks worth $1.3 million that were being shipped to Cambodia. The ivory was hidden in containers of Kenyan handicrafts.”
TRAFFIC’s elephant expert Tom Milliken is quoted as saying: “In 23 years of compiling ivory seizure data for ETIS (Elephant Trade Information System), this is the worst year ever for large ivory seizures - 2011 has truly been a horrible year for elephants.”
Asian Prosperity Driving Ivory Trade
Experts suggest that increasing wealth in expanding Asian economies is behind the increase in the trade.
Milliken says “The escalating large ivory quantities involved in 2011 reflect both a rising demand in Asia and the increasing sophistication of the criminal gangs behind the trafficking. Most illegal shipments of African elephant ivory end up in either China or Thailand.”
Typical seizures during the first decade of this century were fewer than five a year. However, the 2011 peak of 13 major finds represents only a portion of the total trade. Ivory smugglers are constantly changing their routes to avoid detection, so probably far more elephants have been killed for their tusks than the 2,500 estimated by TRAFFIC.
Sources
- “Asian Lust for Ivory Makes 2011 ‘Horrible Year’ for Elephants.” Michelle Faul, Associated Press, December 29, 2011.
- “The International Ban on Ivory Sales and its Effects on Elephant Poaching in Africa.” Andrew M. Lemieux and Ronald V. Clarke, British Journal of Criminology, July 2009.
- “Elephant Ivory Trade FAQs.” World Wildlife Fund, undated.
- “2011: ‘Annus Horibilis for African Elephants, Says Traffic.” TRAFFIC, December 29, 2011.
Rupert Taylor - Rupert Taylor is the editor of a magazine that provides background to current events.
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