China Wants Approval to Buy Ivory
Posted on: Sunday, 13 July 2008, 03:00 CDT
China is seeking approved buyer status for an upcoming auction of ivory from African elephants, a move conservationists fear could doom the animals.
The auction is being held under the auspices of the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species, The Independent reported.
The ivory comes from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, which won an exemption from a worldwide ban on selling ivory in 1997. The countries promised at the time that all ivory would come from elephants that had died a natural death or were rogues.
In 1999, when the first auction was held, Japan was the only country approved as a buyer, able to give assurances it was preventing illegal ivory from crossing its borders.
This is going to mean a return to the bad old days where elephants are being shot into extinction, said Allan Thornton of the Environmental Investigation Agency, and international group that investigates and campaigns against environmental abuses.
Source: United Press International
Related Articles
- Despite 20-Year-Old Ivory Ban, Situation for Elephants More Desperate Than Ever
- Legal Auction Of Namibian Ivory Raises Poaching Concerns
- Namibia Auctions 108 Tons of Ivory
- Ivory Poachers Destroy Elephant Populations
- Heavy Poaching Puts Elephants At Elevated Extinction Risk
- Wildlife Conference Agrees to Ivory Sale
- One Tail Hair Reveals Elephant's Life Tale
- Officials Try to Stop Contraband in Its Track
- Hunters Prowl Web for Banned Game Illegal Trade in Endangered Species Expands With Spread of Internet
- Elephant's Artwork to Be Auctioned for Aid
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds