Bangkok, Thailand—The Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species (CITES) voted in a late night session to
deny Namibia an annual quota of 2,000kg of raw ivory and an
unlimited quantity of worked ivory jewelry, known as “ekipas.”
The decision could have serious, long-term, and positive
implications for elephant conservation across Africa.
“I can’t put it any more plainly,” said Adam Roberts, Executive
Director of the Animal Welfare Institute, “the Parties to CITES
have spoken unequivocally to deny additional ivory exports and
prevent a return to the days when elephants were brutally
slaughtered to create ornamental trinkets.” Further,
Roberts concluded, “the very idea of stimulating a market for
ivory is perplexing and worrying, since the African elephant
range States at a recent meeting declared ‘a strong cause for
concern with regard to illegal killing’ of
elephants—particularly in Central Africa, including in protected
areas—and ‘a strong connection’ between that killing and
unregulated ivory markets.”
Neither an annual raw ivory quota nor exports of worked ‘ekipas’
received even simple majorities when the votes were taken in
Committee. “In an overwhelming show of solidarity with
African nations, delegates from India, Mali, the European Union,
Israel, Kenya, and others voted nearly 2-1 to resoundingly
reject the ivory trade,” commented Will Travers, CEO of the
UK-based Born Free Foundation and President of the Species
Survival Network. “We congratulate all those who spoke out for
true elephant conservation.”
The annual ivory quota was requested by Namibia, despite the
fact that previous ivory sales, approved by the Conference of
the Parties, have been delayed due to global non-compliance with
the conditions required to permit trade to commence.
“Namibia’s proposal for an annual quota,” Roberts added, “is, in
a word, premature. The legitimate fears of East, West, and
Central African ranges States have been heard. Their ongoing
struggle to prevent the further decimation of their elephant
herds by ivory poachers would have been made intolerable had
trade been approved.”
The serious problem caused by high volumes of ivory in
unregulated domestic markets around the world was a constant
concern voiced by many delegates, including those of the
European Union, which finally confirmed its opposition to any
trade in elephant ivory products. “The arrival of United Kingdom
Environment Minister, Elliot Morley, earlier in the day, seemed
to add much-needed backbone to the EU’s rather lackluster and
tentative performance,” concluded Travers.
Travers summed up the very real fears shared by those who work
on the front line of elephant conservation. “Had Namibia’s
proposal been approved, regional and international demand for
ivory, including ekipas, could have lead to continent-wide
elephant poaching and a return to the days when elephant
carcasses unceremoniously littered the African savannah. Africa
cannot stand another assault on its elephants.”
