20th Anniversary of the International Ban on Ivory

It’s been over 20 years since the world of ivory has been banned internationally, however GREED and the demand for products made out of ivory have surge in the last few years.  Scientists are estimating that between 8% – 10% of African’s elephants are still being killed each year to meet this ivory demand.

So why are these products still in such demand?  Apparently, the recent growth in the far east’s appetite for ivory, which is a status symbol for the middle class, has sent ivory prices soaring from 150 pounds a kilogram in 2004 to more than 4,000 pounds a kilogram today.

African elephants in Kenya on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the world ivory trading ban. Photograph: Martin Harvey/AP

This is definitely a topic that will be discussed in detail at this year’s meeting in March of Cites (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species).

It has been estimated that more than 38,000 elephants were killed for their tusks just in 2006 alone and the death rate is even higher today.  To read this article (CLICK HERE) or click on the photo above.