Ivory sale a 'green light' for poachers

A Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) standing committee decision allowing China to import more than a hundred tons of elephant ivory gives a green light to poaching syndicates, Animal Rights Africa (ARA) warned on Wednesday.

At a meeting in Geneva this week, the Cites committee approved China as a fit buyer for 108 tons of ivory put up for sale by South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

ARA says the controversial decision - according to experts, China is the world's largest illegal ivory market - includes the sale of 51 tons of elephant ivory from South Africa.

In real terms, the 51 tons represented the death of an estimated 7 699 South African elephants, the Johannesburg-based organisation said in a statement.

"This sale has literally given the green light to the international poaching syndicates and organised crime, and will present a nightmare to poorly-resourced wildlife enforcement agencies in Africa.

"The international wildlife trade is worth billions of US dollars annually and has been responsible for the decline of wild populations of a number of species of animals.

"Annually, more than 20 000 elephants are killed for the illegal ivory trade, and Chinese nationals have already been implicated in illegal ivory seizures by law enforcement agencies in 20 African countries."

ARA said it was "shameful" the South African government was one of the main proponents for the continuation of the ivory trade.

"China's lack of human rights, its support of repressive regimes and extreme oppression and exploitation of animals are well known, and should be cause enough for other countries not to trade with it," ARA said. - Sapa