Tag: wildlife

Ten years ago, the United States initiated a wave of global momentum to protect elephants from poaching and ivory trafficking.

By analyzing court verdicts, EIA’s new report sheds light on the routes, methods, and networks involved in supplying rhino horn to Chinese consumers and China’s criminal justice response to rhino horn trafficking.

A clear outcome from CoP20 is that support for the closure of domestic ivory markets, and monitoring of those that remain open, stands. EIA strongly urges Japan to close its domestic ivory market to align itself with most elephant range States and former leading consumer countries.

With the exception of the outcome for saiga, CoP20 delivered positive outcomes for EIA’s focal species, which mostly involved preventing any backwards slide in the level of protection afforded by CITES.

A shocking South African court ruling earlier this month appeared to allow private citizens to export rhino horns using an obscure exemption to international trade rules. EIA will be closely following developments on this case and supporting local stakeholders fighting against opening the floodgates to rhino horn trade.

Yahoo! Japan has shown that progress is possible, but there are limits to what a private company can do. It’s time for the Japanese government to implement reforms that close the door on illegal ivory trade once and for all.