Ivory trade is back...

...recent chinese immigration in Africa is undoubtly a keyto understand and discover the new trading routes... andbehind the trade is a serious stake : the survival of Forestelephant in Central Africa. A French veterinarian whoinvestigated in seven African countries, tells us his story.

Photos and text by Jean-François Lagrot/LightMediation

2735-38: Ofir Drori in front of the 1 ton ivory seizure that occured in Douala in September 2009.

Contact - Thierry Tinacci -LightMediation Photo Agency - email: thierry@lightmediation.com - mobile: +33.6.61.80.57.21

2735-01: A carver is exhibiting a chess rider made of ivory in a suburb of Abidjan, Ivory coast. Most rawivory used in West Africa comes from central Africa because of weak local elephant population.

2735-02: An african elephant bull in the Zambezi river on the border of the Mana Pools national Park /Zimbabwe.

2735-03: An elephant made of several parts of ivory in the hands of a carver. Dakar, Soumbédiounemarket, Senegal. There is no more live elephant in Senegal...

2735-04: Tusks of a 40 years bull in the Zambezi river / Mana Pools National Park / Zimbabwe.

2735-17: In Goma, DRC, carvers are displaying their carved items for MONUC customers?

2735-06: In a suburb of Libreville, Gabon, a trader is offering a pair of polished tusks for sale for 400000CFA, (600euros).

2735-07: An ivory virgen ordered by an italian missionary but never picked up on the Bangui artefactmarket. (CAR)

2735-09: Chinese seamen are bargaining for chopsticks in the main Libreville artefact market. Gabon. 2735-11: A carver is polishing a tusk in the final step of the carving process. Libreville/ Gabon.

2735-56: Taking the tusks off is a job that could last not less than 2 hours...The Pygmee assistant (Augustin) is in charge.

2735-12: In the main Brazzaville workshop, an artist is carving a village scene all around a 60cm tusk. 2735-14: National Stockpiles in Yaounde, Cameroon.

2735-15: A carver working in a Libreville workshop. Gabon. 2735-17: In Goma, DRC, carvers are displaying their carved items for MONUC customers?

2735-12: In the main Brazzaville workshop, an artist is carving a village scene all around a 60cm tusk.

2735-18: Male, son of Male, is the most famous carver in Kinshasa and one of the best in central Africa.His specialty is the ivory mermaid that no one else can carve... the mermaid tail is quite diffficult to carve !

2735-19: In Treichville quarter, these carvers run a shop dedicated to ivory trade. They get orders fromEurope mainly and are used to copy classical models like roman sculptures. Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

2735-21: In Treichville quarter, these carvers run a shop dedicated to ivory trade. They get orders fromEurope mainly and are used to copy classical models like roman sculptures. Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

2735-23: One of the numerous stalls dedicated to ivory items on the Bikeko market in Kinshasa, DRC.This market is the best place for open ivory trade in central Africa.

2735-09: Chinese seamen are bargaining for chopsticks in the main Libreville artefact market. Gabon.

2735-24: A vendor is exhibiting an ivory statue in the alley of the Bikeko market in Kinshasa, DRC. 2735-26: Several tens of stalls like this one are mostly dedicated to ivory trade on the bikeko market inKinshasa, DRC.

2735-32: Ofir Drori, director of NGO, LAGA (Last Great Ape), has been fighting for a few years againstivory dealer. His NGO is based in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

2735-34: Ofir Drori and his NGO LAGA are in charge of the management of the Cameroon ivory stockpilesin Yaoundé.

2735-35: Ofir Drori and his NGO LAGA are in charge of the management of the Cameroon ivory stockpilesin Yaoundé.

2735-36: An Eco-guard exhibits a piece of tusk from the Douala 1 ton september 2009 seizure.

2735-38: Ofir Drori in front of the 1 ton ivory seizure that occured in Douala in September 2009. 2735-39: This elephant foot was prepared to become a « Djembe ». It was part of the 1 ton seizure inDouala / september 2009.

2735-42: Officials are presented the 1 ton ivory seizure made in douala in September 2009.

2735-41: The Cameroon minister of Forest and Wildlife presents the 1 ton seizure to the local media inYaounde. (September 2009)

2735-42: Officials are presented the 1 ton ivory seizure made in douala in September 2009.

2735-47: The Brazzaville ivory trader arrested in april 2008 was carving items for Chinese customers. 2735-48: After his arrestation in April 2008, Mr Ikama, the main ivory trader in Brazzaville, was jailed for afew weeks in spite of high political pressure...

2735-21: In Treichville quarter, these carvers run a shop dedicated to ivory trade. They get orders from Europe mainly and are used to copy classical models like roman sculptures. Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

2735-50: Lobéké National Park, South East Cameroon. A 20 year elephant was poached within the Parkboundaries. The trunk, a delicacy, was first cut off to feed the poachers.

2735-51: Robert, the poacher in chief, killed his 500th elephant that day.

2735-52: Lobéké National Park, South East Cameroon. A 20 year elephant was poached within the Parkboundaries. The trunk, a delicacy, was first cut off to feed the poachers.

2735-53: A Small amount of meat is used. Most (95%) of the carcass is left in the forest. If they smokedthe meat for transport, the ecoguards could spot them more easily...

2735-62: Robert, belongs to the respected caste of the « Grande Chasse », which means he hunts big game and elephant in particular with a rifle...

2735-56: Taking the tusks off is a job that could last not less than 2 hours...The Pygmee assistant(Augustin) is in charge.

2735-57: These 2 tusks weigh around 5 kg both. The poachers will get a salary of 45 euros from them.Two elephant have been wounded in the forest before that one was killed. Result : Probably 3 elephant

2735-59: The trunk and others delicacies are cut into smaller parts before being smoked for a night. Thissmoking process helps better conservation and lowers weight.

2735-60: The trunk and othe delicacies are cut into smaller parts before being smoked for a night. Thissmoking process helps better conservation and lowers weight. Meat is also strongly salted before

2735-70: The middleman from Cabinda bargains that quite impressive 8 kg ivory statue. It's good money for him to buy a nice item in Kinshasa and sel lit in Angola despite High risk during transport.

2735-61: A bag of smoked meat and 5 kilos of ivory. Here is the salary of the poachers' team after 11 daysin the forest.

2735-62: Robert, belongs to the respected caste of the « Grande Chasse », which means he hunts biggame and elephant in particular with a rifle...

2735-63: The Pygmee portor whose name is Augustin carries the meat and tusks during 24 hours to getback to the main road.

2735-65: The hunting guide destroyed a poachers' camp at the edge of his territory. He risks a retaliationoperation from the poachers. Indeed a few months later they fire his own hunting camp.

2735-02: An african elephant bull in the Zambezi river on the border of the Mana Pools national Park / Zimbabwe.

2735-66: The ecoguards from the Lobéké National Park, south east Cameroon, generally discover thepachyderm carcasses weeks after they were killed? The lack of means is real : only 1 4x4 for a huge

2735-67: Traditional ivory mask from the Rega tribes in Kivu, Eastern DRC.

2735-68: A recently seized pair of tusks in the office of the staff in charge of the national stockpilesmanagement in Bangui, CAR. That pair is waiting to be stored properly. Before that, it is marked

2735-69: A angolese middleman came to Kinshasa to buy from a local carver a very beautiful ivory statuefor a Customer based in Cabinda, Angola.

2735-70: The middleman from Cabinda bargains that quite impressive 8 kg ivory statue. It's good moneyfor him to buy a nice item in Kinshasa and sel lit in Angola despite High risk during transport.

2735-71: A angolese middleman came to Kinshasa to buy from a local carver a very beautiful ivory statuefor a Customer based in Cabinda, Angola. The Kinshasa carvers are very famous and considered as the

2735-72: These items are displayed in a Goma workshop (Eastern DRC). Ivory comes for part from Thenearby Virunga National Park from part from forests of the Kivu forests. Most of them have been emptied

2735-75: Most of the raw ivory carved in Abidjan comes from central Africa as elephant population in WestAfrica is much too small to supply the market. Some worked ivory items also come from East Africa like

2735-59: The trunk and others delicacies are cut into smaller parts before being smoked for a night. This smoking process helps better conservation and lowers weight.

2735-76: A carver in a Goma/DRC workshop is exhibiting a piece roughly carved. The carvers have noelectricity and carve manually. As a consequence carving is much more rough and can be easily

2735-77: In this Lubumbashi artefact market, in the South of DRC, raw ivory comes mainly from Zambiabut it is carved locally as law is not so strict on this side of the border...

2735-79: This young elephant in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe is searching for his mother that wasprobably killed by poachers. Due to terrible economic situation there has been a sharp increase in

2735-80: The author, Jean-François Lagrot, is discussing with Male, the most famous ivory carver inKinshasa and probably in central Africa.

2735-79: This young elephant in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe is searching for his mother that was probably killed by poachers. Due to terrible economic situation there has been a sharp increase in poaching inZimbabwe during the last decade.

Captions

1- A carver is exhibiting a chess ridermade of ivory in a suburb of Abidjan, Ivorycoast. Most raw ivory used in West Africacomes from central Africa because ofweak local elephant population.2- An african elephant bull in the Zambeziriver on the border of the Mana Poolsnational Park / Zimbabwe.3- An elephant made of several parts ofivory in the hands of a carver. Dakar,Soumbédioune market, Senegal. There isno more live elephant in Senegal...4- Tusks of a 40 years bull in the Zambeziriver / Mana Pools National Park /Zimbabwe.5- A Pygmee tracker exhibits a tusk hejust extracted from a poached forestelephant in the Lobeke National Park /South East Cameroon.6- In a suburb of Libreville, Gabon, atrader is offering a pair of polished tusksfor sale for 400 000CFA, (600euros).7- An ivory virgen ordered by an italianmissionary but never picked up on theBangui artefact market. (CAR)8- Carved items in a carver workshop inGoma, DRC.9- Chinese seamen are bargaining forchopsticks in the main Libreville artefactmarket. Gabon.10- A Gabonese artist is preparing thebase of a raw tusk for further carving in aLibreville workshop.11- A carver is polishing a tusk in the finalstep of the carving process. Libreville/Gabon.12- In the main Brazzaville workshop, anartist is carving a village scene all arounda 60cm tusk.13- Carving is a precise step. DentistryTools are often used in central Africawhere electricity is available that means in

the main towns. Dentistry smell is typicalof ivory workshop...14- National Stockpiles in Yaounde,Cameroon.15- A carver working in a Librevilleworkshop. Gabon.16- In Brazzaville, a carver is exhibitnghis productions : ivory eggs, exotic fruitsand raw ivory ready for carving.17- In Goma, DRC, carvers are displayingtheir carved items for MONUCcustomers...18- Male, son of Male, is the most famouscarver in Kinshasa and one of the best incentral Africa. His specialty is the ivorymermaid that no one else can carve... themermaid tail is quite diffficult to carve !Male is the chief of the carvers'association.19- In Treichville quarter, these carversrun a shop dedicated to ivory trade. Theyget orders from Europe mainly and areused to copy classical models like romansculptures. Abidjan, Ivory Coast.20- The boss of this jewelry shop inLibreville / Gabon recently brought this ivory Yamoussoukro cathedral dome back by plane from Abidjan, Ivory Coast.21- See 1922- 25cm ivory Baoule mask for sale in ashop at Soumbédioune market in Dakar,Ivory Coast.23- One of the numerous stalls dedicatedto ivory items on the Bikeko market inKinshasa, DRC. This market is the bestplace for open ivory trade in central Africa.24- A vendor is exhibiting an ivory statuein the alley of the Bikeko market inKinshasa, DRC.25- Two mermaids, typically carved byMale, the most famous carver in Kinshasa,are displayed on a stall of the Bikekomarket.26- Several tens of stalls like this one aremostly dedicated to ivory trade on thebikeko market in Kinshasa, DRC.

27- See 2428- See 729- This trader displays his items for saleafter an appointment in a particular houseof a quarter of the capital city of IvoryCoast, Abidjan.30- A chess game displayed by the traderafter an appointment in a particular houseof a quarter of the capital city of IvoryCoast, Abidjan. The coloured pieces areteinted with tea leaves.31- This rhino was carved in a workshopsituated in the Soumbédioune market inDakar, Senegal.32- Ofir Drori, director of NGO, LAGA(Last Great Ape), has been fighting for afew years against ivory dealer. His NGO isbased in Yaoundé, Cameroon.33- Ofir Drori, an israeli citizen, is directorof NGO « LAGA ». Here in front of a oneton ivory seizure that occured on the 22thof September 2009 in Douala Cameroon.34- Ofir Drori and his NGO LAGA are incharge of the management of theCameroon ivory stockpiles in Yaoundé.35- Ofir Drori/ NGO LAGA, exhibits anivory statue seized then kept in theCameroon officila Stockpiles in Yaoundé.36- An Eco-guard exhibits a piece of tuskfrom the Douala 1 ton september 2009seizure.37- A ministry staff will keep a « souvenir» of the Douala 1 ton seizure that occuredin september 2009.38- Ofir Drori in front of the 1 ton ivoryseizure that occured in Douala inSeptember 2009.39- This elephant foot was prepared tobecome a « Djembe ». It was part of the 1ton seizure in Douala / september 2009.40- Ofir Drori / LAGA is presenting the 1ton seizure that occured in Douala inSeptember 2009 to the local media.41- The Cameroon minister of Forest andWildlife presents the 1 ton seizure to thelocal media in Yaounde. (September

2009)42- Officials are presented the 1 ton ivoryseizure made in douala in September2009.43- The 1 ton raw ivory seizure is enteringthe Cameroon stockpiles in Yaoundéunder the supervision of Ofir Drori/LAGA. 44- In Bangui/ CAR, the nationalstockpiles are situated in ta room Underthe building of the Forest & WildlifeMinistry. A staff member is weighing a 51kg tusk.45- Worked ivory seized after the april2008 operation in Brazzaville to closedown the main ivory workshop.46- See 45. Besides ivory, leopard skinswere also seized.47- The Brazzaville ivory trader arrested inapril 2008 was carving items for Chinesecustomers.48- After his arrestation in April 2008, MrIkama, the main ivory trader in Brazzaville,was jailed for a few weeks in spite of highpolitical pressure...49- Yokadouma city, in the south east ofCameroon is gate for elephant poachersand ivory traders who enter the forestelephant territory.50- Lobéké National Park, South EastCameroon. A 20 year elephant waspoached within the Park boundaries. Thetrunk, a delicacy, was first cut off to feedthe poachers.51- Robert, the poacher in chief, killed his500th elephant that day.52- See 50,51. Robert, the poacher inchief is a Bantou. He employs twoPygmee trackers (René and Augustin)who are also portors.53- A Small amount of meat is used.Most (95%) of the carcass is left in theforest. If they smoked the meat fortransport, the ecoguards could spot themmore easily...54- Taking the tusks off is a job that couldlast not less than 2 hours...The Pygmee

The Pygmee assistant (Augustin) is incharge. 55- See 54.56- See 54.57- These 2 tusks weigh around 5 kgboth. The poachers will get a salary of45euros from them. Two elephant havebeen wounded in the forest before thatone was killed. Result : Probably 3elephant died for 45 euros58- The elephant feet are good trophiesthat can be dealt easily for Collectionors.59- The trunk and other delicacies are cutinto smaller parts before being smoked fora night. This smoking process helps betterconservation and lowers weight.60- See 59. Meat is also strongly saltedbefore smoking. The poachers will eatmeat all night long to get strength beforewalking back.61- A bag of smoked meat and 5 kilos ofivory. Here is the salary of the poachers'team after 11 days in the forest.62- Robert, belongs to the respectedcaste of the « Grande Chasse », whichmeans he hunts big game and elephant inparticular with a rifle...63- The Pygmee portor whose name isAugustin carries the meat and tusksduring 24 hours to get back to the mainroad.64- A hunting guide for a huntingconcession nearby patrols on theboundaries of his territory to keep thepoachers out...65- The hunting guide destroyed apoachers' camp at the edge of histerritory. He risks a retaliation operationfrom the poachers. Indeed a few monthslater they fire his own hunting camp.66- The ecoguards from the LobékéNational Park, south east Cameroon,

generally discover the pachydermcarcasses weeks after they were killed...The lack of means is real : only 1 4x4 for ahuge territory. However some of them aretruly dedicated to the hard job while othersare linked to the poachers and deeplycorrupt.67- Traditional ivory mask from the Regatribes in Kivu, Eastern DRC.68- A recently seized pair of tusks in theoffice of the staff in charge of the nationalstockpiles management in Bangui, CAR.That pair is waiting to be stored properly.Before that, it is marked according to theCITES requirements.69- A angolese middleman came toKinshasa to buy from a local carver a verybeautiful ivory statue for a Customerbased in Cabinda, Angola. 70- The middleman from Cabindabargains that quite impressive 8 kg ivorystatue. It's good money for him to buy anice item in Kinshasa and sel lit in Angoladespite High risk during transport. 71- See 69. The Kinshasa carvers arevery famous and considered as the best incentral Africa. That statue is for sale for3500$ after hard bargain. It will be sold fora much higher price in Cabinda.72- These items are displayed in a Gomaworkshop (Eastern DRC). Ivory comes forpart from The nearby Virunga NationalPark from part from forests of the Kivuforests. Most of them have been emptiedof their forest elephant during the last 15years. Until the late 90's, DRC used tohave the largest population of forestelephant in central Africa...73- An ivory christ openly for sale in theSoumbédioune market in Dakar in spite ofthe local legislation.74- This worked ivory vendor has a shopin the Soumbedioune market in Dakar,Senegal. But there is no more elephant inSenegal ! Raw ivory comes from centralAfrica mainly by regular plane.

75- Most of the raw ivory carved inAbidjan comes from central Africa aselephant population in West Africa is muchtoo small to supply the market. Someworked ivory items also come from EastAfrica like this chess game that wascarved in Kenya.76- A carver in a Goma/DRC workshop isexhibiting a piece roughly carved. Thecarvers have no electricity and carvemanually. As a consequence carving ismuch more rough and can be easilydistinguished from Kinshasa carving.77- In this Lubumbashi artefact market, inthe South of DRC, raw ivory comes mainlyfrom Zambia but it is carved locally as lawis not so strict on this side of the border...78- This elephant carved in Dakar is a «souvenir » of the past. There is no moreelephant in Senegal since all of them werepoached to the last one...79- This young elephant in HwangeNational Park in Zimbabwe is searchingfor his mother that was probably killed bypoachers. Due to terrible economicsituation there has been a sharp increasein poaching in Zimbabwe during the lastdecade.80- The author, Jean-François Lagrot, isdiscussing with Male, the most famousivory carver in Kinshasa and probably incentral Africa.