Worst year for elephants is blamed on Far East

The illegal trade in ivory reached record levels in 2011 as gangs meeting a growing demand from the Far East slaughtered elephants across Africa, according to a wildlife group (Tristan McConnell writes).

"In 23 years of compiling ivory seizure data...this is the worst year ever for large ivory seizures - 2011 has truly been a horrible year for elephants," said Tom Milliken, of the group Traffic. It said that there were 13 large seizures in the year, totalling about 23 tonnes -  more than double the figures for 2010. This represents the killing of about 2,500 elephants.

(The Times, December 30th 2011)

UCF Comment

UCF has focused part of its work on reinforcing the law enforcement capacity of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in order to help to fight the indiscriminate slaughter of elephants for the ivory trade. UCF are working also with Dr Samuel K. Wasser, Director of the Centre for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington, to analyse and map elephant DNA across Uganda for the INTERPOL database that can pinpoint - and thus target law enforcement to - the exact origin of confiscated ivory. To read more about this landmark, high profile international project, click here - Elephant DNA Sampling.

The positives that can be taken from the figures quoted in the above article are that as more and more ivory is seized then this sends a clear message to the illegal traders that systems are improving and the international authorities are determined to reduce this illegal trade and the slaughter of elephants.

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