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Prices of illegal ivory in China drop, raising hopes in war on poaching
A Kenya Wildlife Service ranger stands near a burning pile of 15 tonnes of elephant ivory seized in Kenya at Nairobi National Park on March 3, 2015. PHOTO | CARL DE SOUZA |
What you need to know:
- Kenya-based conservation organisation Save the Elephants said Monday that the price of illegal raw ivory in China had fallen to $1,100 (1,000 euros) per kilogramme, down from a record high last year of $2,100 (1,900 euros) per kilo.
- Chinese celebrities have fronted advertising campaigns and in October Britain’s Prince William appealed to Chinese people to boycott ivory during a state visit to London by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
- It is estimated that more than 30,000 elephants are killed for their tusks every year.
- In October, an elderly Chinese woman dubbed the “Ivory Queen”, was arrested in Tanzania over links to $2.5 million (Sh5.4 billion) smuggled ivory, has been charged.
NAIROBI, Monday
Illegal ivory has halved in value in China according to new research, leading to hopes that the demand which drives poaching in Africa might be on the wane.
