South Africa proposing a reopening of the ivory trade In a statement by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, details of South Africa's proposal to allow them to trade in elephant ivory and hides were released this week. This move follows the one off trade in ivory from Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe to Japan earlier this year which received wide spread condemnation from animal conservation and environmental groups amongst fears that this would lead to increased poaching across the whole African elephant range.
Current signs are that ivory poaching is increasing across Africa.
This is indicated by the seizure of two huge hauls of illegal ivory in Portugal and Dubai last month, following another of over 440 tusks in August found in a shipment from South Africa to China, and Kenya's largest seizure for 10 years in July of 350 kg. See previous articles.