Elephants: the deciding decade // Review

• Published in: Alternatives (Peterborough) 1993-08, Vol.19 (4), p.41-42
• Main Author: Orenstein, Ronald I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0002-6638

The agreement by the member states of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to ban trade in elephant ivory was a pivotal point for the elephant. Orenstein, from personal experience as a biologist and lawyer representing the International Wildlife Coalition (IWF) at CITES meetings, discusses the events leading up to the ban. The value of ivory had reached $300 - $400 a kilo in Japan and $150 a kilo in Africa, making poaching irresistible to the poor. The flood of semi - automatic weapons that entered Africa from international arms traders during the civil wars of the 60s were turned on the elephants by poachers. At the top of the poaching pyramid were millionaire dealers living abroad, using their wealth to bribe officials to avoid anti - poaching laws. The extent and details of the operation were exposed to the international community in a 1989 Environmental Investigation Agency report. Getting the trade banned was achieved despite opposition from some member countries. Loopholes still exist; a number of crucial countries did not sign the agreement; ivory can be sold legally in most countries; smugglers still have routes open to them; and ivory is presently stockpiled with dealers poised waiting for the decision to lift the ban. For these reasons, Orenstein warns against complacency.