Arms cargo link to illegal ivory trade: Report

By Manelisi Dubase
A cache of arms that was being transported to Zimbabwe was paid for with eight tons of ivory poached from elephants in Zimbabwe. This came out during the release of a report by international conservation groups on the illegal ivory trade.

Care for the Wild International, the Humane Society Institute and Save the Elephants say the bulk of the ivory that ends up in the United States (US) is coming from Africa through illegal means.

Some conservation groups say that at one point, the African elephant population was halved by poachers, and identify the Chinese as the main culprits.

Martin Rowlings of the Human Society Institute says: "It’s very clear to us that we need to do something about this. We would like to see Congress taking action to make the sale of ivory much tougher if not illegal altogether. We would like to see consumers developing an understanding that by buying ivory they are contributing to the potential decimation of elephant herds in Africa."

Buyers in the US purchase ivory from China, for use in items like pistol grips, expensive jewellery and other high-value goods. According to conservationists, this ivory comes mainly from central African countries such as the DRC, Kenya and Cameroon.