Ivory & Poaching

Even since very early times animals have been in danger of extinction due to the killing of them for their ivory. Many species of elephants are believed to have been slaughtered by the thousands in Siberia and Africa in order to take their ivory from the teeth and the tusks. This is a process that continued for decades until enough people finally stood up and realized what was happening.

The ban on hunting animals for their ivory took place in many countries around the world in the early 1980's. In many instances the demand for it was lessened due to things such as piano keys being made from synthetic materials instead of ivory as they once were. Yet there is still a demand for it on the black market and people will pay a premium price for it.

This is why poaching of animals that have ivory tusks and teeth continue even though it is illegal. The trading of ivory has been banned around the world since 1989 so what is exported has to be smuggled. Sometimes there are tips and large amount of ivory are intercepted. Yet that doesn't help the animals that were killed for it or stop those responsible from continuing to collect more of it. As of 2002 some countries such as Africa are able to export trades of ivory for there economic growth.

Yet the truth is the profits from this process don't ever get into the hands of the people that really need it. Instead it is for those that are already making a great deal of money on it. Poor Africans are doing the killing and collecting of the ivory and being paid little for it. Then the middlemen sell it for huge profits and they are getting rich from it.

The best way to really ensure that poaching can be reduced as it pertains to the collection of ivory is to get the message out to people. For those that know animals are being slaughtered for the ivory they may change their mind to invest in it. Stiffer penalties for those involved in poaching for ivory need to be imposed. Fines aren't enough as criminal charges and jail sentences need to accompany it as well.