Conservation manager, SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association, lizanne@sahunt.co.za
Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia want the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to lift the ban on the ivory trade. South Africa indicated support, but it still needs to be ratified by the government. This joint position was one of the outcomes of the first African Elephant Summit held at the end of May this year in Hwange, Zimbabwe. Both Japan and China, two large consumer markets of elephant tusks, supported the bid to promote the lifting of a ban on the ivory trade. At the same time, America, along with EU countries and Britain, remain vehemently opposed to lifting the ban. International trade in ivory and elephants has been banned since 1989 under CITES. One-off sales were allowed in 1999 and 2008, despite fierce opposition.
HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT
Southern African countries that support sustainable use are home to approximately 293 000 (70%) of Africa’s elephant population. Elephant numbers here are increasing, resulting in habitat degradation in some areas and increased human-wildlife conflict as resources and space must be shared between people and elephants.
Elephant populations outside South Africa
