Elephant, Kenya, 1999 Dead elephants, Kenya, 1988

Elephants Under Threat

Elephants remain under threat. The gradual recovery of elephant populations since the ivory ban was introduced in 1989 is now being seriously undermined by decisions made by the international community in 1997 and 2002 which have allowed one-off sales in ivory.

Hundreds of thousands of African elephants were slaughtered during the 1980s to supply the insatiable demand of the world's ivory markets. EIA's investigations into the billion-dollar trade uncovered the movement of ivory from all over Africa to the carving factories of Dubai, and on to the consuming markets of the Far East. With the help of committed conservationists our campaign paved the way for the 1989 international ivory ban. Poaching levels plummeted as a result.

In spite of this, as well as growing evidence of poaching, a second sale of ivory went ahead on October 28th 2008. The sale of stockpiled ivory from four African governments to China and Japan was approved at the UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in July.

EIA continues to defend the ban in the face of mounting opposition from Southern African countries and Japan, traditionally the world's leading ivory consumer. However, the ban is being compromised. In 1997, at the 10th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a one-off sale of ivory to Japan was agreed - the first legal international ivory sale for almost a decade. Since the sale went ahead, there has been a marked,worldwide increase in seizures of illegal ivory in transit. In spite of this, as well as growing evidence of poaching, a second sale of ivory has now been approved. In spite of this, as well as growing evidence of poaching, a second sale of ivory went ahead on October 28th 2008. The sale of stockpiled ivory from four African governments to China and Japan was approved at the UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in July.

In November 2002, it was agreed that stockpiles from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa could be exported after May 2004 under certain conditions.

With more than two decades of experience tracking ivory smuggling, EIA has grave concerns that these ivory sales will prompt an increase in elephants killed illegally elsewhere in Africa and we remain concerned at the levels of consumer demand in countries such as China, Japan and Thailand. EIA continues to monitor poaching levels and consumer markets worldwide.

Latest from the Elephants Campaign:

Press Release: 11 Mar 10
THE DEADLY TRADE IN IVORY ESCALATES

Urgent: 23 Feb 10
Bloody Ivory - Urgent call for help!

Campaign Update: 13 Nov 09
Mary Rice Executive Director with EIA on the current state of the ivory trade

MORE ELEPHANTS CAMPAIGN NEWS >>

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WHAT CAN I DO?
Elephants Campaign actions

REPORTS & BRIEFINGS
Publication produced by EIA as part of the Elephants Campaign

FURTHER INFORMATION
Background details and supplementary campaign information.