Elephant poaching has become widespread in Africa, which is why activists rejoice on the move to crack down on this malicious trade. “Hong Kong will ban the export and import of ivory,” announced the leader of the city on Wednesday. This was a move welcomed by animal welfare activists.
Chief executive Leung Chun-ying announced to lawmakers during his annual policy address that officials were adamant about the crack- down on the trade in Hong Kong. The southern Chinese city is a great ivory sales hub, which has been condemned by environmentalists for encouraging the illegal trade, which ushers the pandemic poaching in Africa.
On Wednesday, Leung reported in a Legislative Council that the government is very distraught over the illegal poaching of elephants in Africa. In its course of action, it intends to start legislative procedures immediately to bar the export and import of elephant hunting trophies. In addition, he also stated that ministers will traverse other pertinent measures actively to stop the local ivory trade.
When the ban will take effect was not mentioned.
Hong Kong has one of the most active container terminals and airstrips worldwide, and frequently encounters ivory traded without authorization. In the year 2013, ivory seizures attained a record of 8,041 kg. The animal welfare activists were amused by that announcement, but they however prompted new laws to be set up as soon as it is possible.
Alex Hofford from WildAid, a conservation group, reported to AFT that the news of the Hong Kong government’s decision to commence a phase out of local ivory trade was long awaited. Alex reported that they are now prompting the chief executive to mark a timeline and adhere to with concrete action as soon as possible.
There is great demand for elephant tusks in the Middle East as well as Asia for use in formulating ornaments and traditional medicine. In China, Ivory is very popular with the Chinese collectors who regard it as a valued investment. In July, advocacy group Save the Elephants published a report that stated Hong Kong’s ivory market is steering elephants towards extinction.
If history has anything to show, it reveals that legal ivory sales are only meant to conceal the illegal trade that encourages poaching experiences all over Africa, with Hong Kong being the epicenter of the illegal trade, according to Peter Knights of WildAid.
China, which is a major market, has the prices dwindling. The sales started slowing in 2010. According to wildlife NGOs, China accounts for 70 percent of the ivory demand worldwide. The NGOs noted China’s love for ivory is accountable for approximately 30,000 elephants every year in Africa.
Presently, there is an estimate of 470,000 African elephants, which is a drop from 550,000 elephants living in the wild in 2006. Since 1989, the international elephant ivory trade has been condemned, only with rare exceptions. This is after the number of the African giants plummeted from millions in mid-20th century to 600,000 when 1980 was coming to a close.