- According to a report by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), despite the considerable reduction in the number of African elephants killed in 2013 from the previous years, poaching is still reducing the number of these pushing them towards the brink of extinction as it exceeds the natural population expansion growth rates.
- The momentum has to be maintained and translated into deeper and stronger efforts to fight these crimes on the frontline, where it is needed most — from the field, to customs, to illicit markets.
- The number of African elephants has fallen 95% in the last century and stands at about 500,000. Large seizures of ivory have indicated this to be an organized Transnational crime.
- About 80% of these seizures took place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Combined with China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, they make the so-called “gang of eight” identified as most implicated in the illegal ivory trade as source, transit or destination countries.
- The slaughter of elephants, rhinos, tigers and other species have surged in the previous decade due to increasing demands.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/fewer-elephants-killed-in-2013-figures-show/article6117950.ece
Exams Perspective:
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites)
- Poaching
- Gang of eight