From the previous hill the head

1995/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ekologia

Five years after the total ban on ivory trade. However, the latest data confirm that the situation remains serious. In most African countries the animal protection budget is getting smaller, so they will not be able to carry out aid projects that were established five years ago.

Since 1990, the budget for elephant protection projects by African countries has reached half. In some cases, however, environmental groups have denounced that the reduction of these budgets has been 90%. The direct consequence is the spread of illegal ivory trafficking. Given the inability to comply with the aid plans set by international organizations, illegal groups hunting elephants can cross Africa without finding any inconvenience. The precious prize of these hunters is the ivory that comes out of the tusks of elephants.

While African countries are calling for external aid, in illegal markets it is becoming easier to find ivory. There are also more and more buyers waiting for the film. Natural groups say that in the last two years the elephant population of Gabon and Malawi has declined by 30%. These data confirm that the measures carried out so far have not achieved the expected result and that, therefore, a deeper reflection on prohibition is necessary.