2,500 elephants killed in 2011 for ivory
December 29th, 2011 - 8:23 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Dec 29 (IANS) Around 2,500 elephants were slaughtered across the world for ivory this year, according to a report by an environmental agency.
Experts from Washington-based Traffic environment agency said it has been the worst year for the animals since ivory sales were banned in 1989, the Daily Mail reported.
“As most large-scale ivory seizures fail to result in any arrests, I fear the criminals are winning. The escalation in ivory trade and elephant and rhino killing is being driven by the Asian syndicates that are now firmly enmeshed within African societies,” said Traffic’s elephant and rhino expert Tom Milliken.
At least 13 large seizures of ivory were made this year, which comprised 23,676 kg of the product. In 2010, there were six major seizures weighing under 10,000 kg.
The latest seizure took place Dec 21 in Malaysia, where authorities confiscated African elephant tusks worth $1.3 million.
“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,” Milliken said.
- Helicopter-borne poachers kill 22 elephants in Congo - Apr 25, 2012
- Two poachers shot dead in Kaziranga - Dec 13, 2010
- Poachers kill 200 elephants in Cameroon - Feb 18, 2012
- Ivory poachers shot dead in Kenya - Apr 22, 2012
- One-horned rhino killed in Kaziranga park - Oct 28, 2010
- South African game park officials arrested for rhino poaching - Mar 01, 2012
- 220 rhinos killed in South Africa this year - May 23, 2012
- Two poachers killed in Kaziranga, rhino found dead (Lead) - Dec 13, 2010
- Rhino mother, baby killed in South Africa - Feb 11, 2012
- Chinese farm threatened African rhino for horns: Report - Mar 07, 2010
- Four rhino poachers killed in gunfight in Kaziranga - May 21, 2010
- Poacher gang consisting of former forest guards busted - May 18, 2010
- Legal loopholes make illegal ivory trade thrive in Thailand - Jun 19, 2009
- Tusker trafficking gang busted in Assam - Nov 02, 2010
- $65,000 reward to nab South Africa rhino poachers - Feb 13, 2012
Tags: 23 years, african elephant, african societies, criminals, daily mail, elephant, elephant tusks, elephants, environment agency, environmental agency, escalation, ivory sales, ivory trade, kg, large scale, rhino, seizure, seizures, syndicates, traffic environment