RECENT ELEPHANT NEWS: Once again at CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species) meeting in Chile in November 2002, there is a proposal seeking permission for ivory sales to go ahead, and for approval to trade in live elephants, elephant skin and hunting trophies. The proposals are from the pro-trade leader Zimbabwe, with Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia too. This would turn the clock back to the late 1980's when up to 200 elephants a day were being killed for their ivory. The global ivory ban, passed by CITES in 1989, led to a decline in poaching that saw the value of illegal ivory plummeted to less than $20.00 a kilo from the pre-ban price of up to $300.00 a kilo. With the increasing human population and loss of habitat for elephants, this proposal could very well push the African Elephant periliously close to extinction.
What YOU can do to help: 1. The Born Free Foundation has set up a page to inform you what you can do to help as well as having a petition to sign that will be presented at CITES by 2 of their representatives. 2. The USA is a member of CITES, so let them know how you feel. You could write your representatives, senators, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Secretary of the Interior.