More
than half of Africa's elephants were killed by ivory poachers during the
1970's and 80's. Today there are just 600,000 with their Asian cousins
catastrophically reduced to fewer than 40,000.
In
1989 all ivory trade was banned. The markets collapsed and some elephant
populations began to recover. But poaching continues and in poorer regions
numbers are far from stable. Then in 1997, limited ivory sales were
allowed to Japan. Immediately the illegal killing increased.
In
July 1999, DSCF funded Kenya's biggest seizure of tusks for ten years.
Zambia now holds over 13 tonnes of confiscated ivory representing 1,200
dead elephants, accumulated since DSCF sponsored the burning of their
stockpile in 1992. During 1999 over 2.5 tonnes of ivory was seized in the
EU alone, including 620kg in Paris whilst being smuggled from Rwanda to
Japan in December.
Today
the pressure continues as South Africa and others wish to sell more ivory
to Japan stimulating market demand while inadequate resources are
allocated to wildlife law enforcement.
The
David Shepherd Conservation Foundation firmly believes that only a total
moratorium on ivory trading can secure the long term future survival of
these magnificent creatures.