Elephant Poachers in Africa

1. Elephant Poachers in Africa Lauren & Karlee

2. Elephant Poaching • Poaching in Africa effects not only Africa itself but the world on a global scale. • The sale of poached ivory effects more then just Africa, since the market for this poached ivory exists in Asia. A majority of poached ivory is shipped to Asian markets through other countries that often don’t support the sale of this ivory. • Poached ivory meant for Asian markets is seized from all over the world. The country of Malaysia recently seized 6 tonnes of poached ivory meant for sale in China.

3. Video • Elephant Poachers in Kenya – Vice • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygHH40MAL7w

4. Socioeconomic factors & all time high prices of ivory • Extreme poverty leads to illegal poaching, locals, who lack jobs and ways to make money to support their families unfortunately turn to poaching with ivory prices reaching all time highs in places like Asia. • The use of ivory in things like carvings and jewelry in Asia effects the poaching of ivory in Africa because the poached ivory fetches high prices on the Asian market, this leads to instability in regions that have elephant reserves due to the rise in organized crime due to the poaching of ivory. The money from the poached ivory funds not only locals who are despite for money in a struggling economy but also militias across Africa (such as the lord’s resistance army). • A charity devoted to saving elephants, called save the elephants.org, quoted Hilary Clinton as saying in context to the ivory trade that has become “more organized, more lucrative, more widespread and more dangerous then ever” and in fact news reached the organization at the time they wrote this article that three elephants had been killed in northern Kenya near a town called Isiolo, by experienced gunman for their ivory. • Asia unfortunately has a large black market for ivory and will pay the elevated prices for this precious commodity.

5. Fall in elephant populations Elephant populations are steadily falling all over africa due to poaching. In northern africa, as high as 90% of elephant deaths are related to poachers, in western africa the number is only slightly lower at 84%, Eastern africa is slightly better at 59% and southern africa at 51%. In recent years the population of Zakouma National park in Chad has seen a 90% decrease in elephant populations within the park, a protected space specifically for the conservation of endangered animals. Ivory poaching is the worst threat to elephant populations in africa, one that threatens to wipe them out. Traditionally southern africa, which contains more wealthy countries was safe from poachers, but with ivory prices reaching an all time high, these places are no longer safe for elephants. 9 out of 10 protected areas in africa, the last safe havens for elephants in africa are now being targeted ruthlessly. Most of the large scale ivory shipments seized in the past few years originate in Kenya and Tanzania. It is estimated around 100 elephants are poached per day for their ivory. The current level of demand for ivory outweighs the population of elephants, the ivory trade is unsustainable.

7. Conservation efforts • Until people are convinced that ivory should be banned there will unfortunately continue to be a market for this illegal ivory • Due to the inability of the population to sustainably meet the demand of ivory sales the product should be boycotted. • Previous policies such as the banning of ivory in the united states in the 1980’s provided minor restoration to elephant population, in order for these animals to have healthy populations we will need to refrain from purchasing any items that may contain ivory.

8. Global Effects • As poorer populations demand the ability to sell ivory internationally to markets outside of Africa and Asia the global community must stand up and refuse to purchase these items for the sake of conservation. • The global community must provide infrastructure to these impoverished communities in order to prevent future poaching through creating economic growth in other sectors to allow for legal ways

9. sources • http://www.savetheelephants.org/files/pdf/publications/2013%20Douglas-Hamilton%20TimeRunningOutForElephants-SWARA.pdf • (main article) http://www.savetheelephants.org/files/pdf/publications/2012%20Douglas-Hamilton%20testimony%20on%20Ivory%20and%20Insecurity%20The%20Global%20Implications%20of%20Poaching%20in%20Africa%20before%20the%20Committee%20on%20Foreign%20Relations%20US%20Senate.pdf • (Graph) • http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/ivory/elephant-ivory-poaching-graphic • http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/world/africa/africas-elephants-are-being-slaughtered-in-poaching-frenzy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0