Shanghai Window Shopping – Shanghai Shopping

The Ivory Wars

Ivory Background Exists in rhinoceros, narwhals, walrus,

pigs, and sperm whales Elephant are the most important source A tusk is a “big incisor tooth” Ivory is used for a variety of purposes

Occupy for Animals - 2013

Sa’dabad Palace, Iran, 2013

Ivory Piano Keys

Hankos – Japanese stamps made of ivory – status symbol

Harvesting Ivory = Lucrative!

Commodity Prices – per pound basis Gold = $ 16 310 Oil = $ 32 Corn = $.11 Diamond = $49 000 approx. Raw Ivory (2012) = $900

And dangerous!

African Wildlife Trust - 2012

Zakouma National Park : Southeastern Chad, Central Africa

Elephant Facts Average elephants live up to 60- 80 years old Tusks weight 60 – 100 lbs at 60 years Gestation (pregnancy) is 22 months Live in large herds, the oldest matriarch is

the boss Eat approximately 150 kgs of vegetation

every day

Source: Dr. Mike Loomis – North Carolina Zoological Park

The Ivory Trade Majority of ivory is leaving Africa and

destined for the East Asia (China, Japan) In 1979, – 1.3 million elephants in Africa By 1989, only 600 000 remained Many blamed it on the increase in Ivory

demand In 1989 CITES (Convention on International

Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna) made the trade of ivory illegal

Supporters of The Ivory Ban Eastern African Countries

Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda are dependant upon tourism and safaris generate large amounts of income

44% of Tanzania’s land base is national parks Safaris generated over $1.7 billion (2011) for

Tanzania People want to see the big five, buffalo, lion,

leopard, rhinoceros and of course elephants

Kenya Ivory Burning - 1989

In protest of the Ivory Trade - the Kenyan government rather burn their ivory, then have it sold illegally.

Opposition to the Ban Southern African Countries including

South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland

These countries struggle with too many elephants

Suggest culling (harvesting the sick and old) elephants to support community programs.

The Campfire Program Until 1989, Zimbabwe granted locals permission to kill a certain number of elephants.

Revenue from those elephant tusks was used to build schools, wells and health clinics.

Trophy Hunting In Zimbabwe, a family of 8 can subsist on $230/year. A 21-day hunt brings $ 50 000 into the local community