Page 5 - EIA Report on Tanzanian African Ivory Smuggling 2014 report
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The Proportion of Illegally Killed Tanzania was the country of export for BELOW:
Elephants (PIKE) index measures the 37 per cent of large ivory seizures Ivory travelling from Tanzania
volume of elephant carcasses due to during the period, followed by Kenya and Kenya to China seized
illegal killing. The index ranges from with 27 per cent.12 by Hong Kong Customs,
0.0 showing no illegal killing to 1.0 October 2012.
where all carcasses were illegally killed. Seizure data also confirms China’s
The highest poaching rate is found in position as by far the largest single
Central Africa, with a PIKE level of 0.9. destination for illicit ivory, with
This is confirmed by studies revealing Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines
that forest elephants in central Africa and Malaysia as the main transit
have declined by over 65 per cent countries for shipments from Africa.
between 2002-13.9 In East Africa, the Between 2009-13, out of 76 large
PIKE level has tripled from 0.2 to 0.6 seizures of ivory two-thirds occurred in
between 2006-11. For example, more Asia, indicating the porous nature of
than 60 per cent of elephant carcasses East Africa’s ports. This changed in
found at MIKE monitoring sites in 2013, when, out of a total of 18 large-
Kenya had been illegally killed. scale seizures totalling 41 tonnes,
80 per cent occurred in just three
Unsurprisingly, data showing increased countries in East Africa – Tanzania,
poaching levels is mirrored by surging Kenya and Uganda.13
illicit trade in ivory. According to ETIS
figures, the illegal ivory trade has grown Both the escalation of elephant poaching
three-fold since 1998.10 The surge has and the increase of large scale ivory
been especially pronounced since the shipments indicate the involvement of
period 2011-13, with record levels of organised criminal syndicates in the
ivory totalling 116 tonnes seized during burgeoning illicit ivory trade, abetted by
this time.11 corruption at key stages in the smuggling
chain. Overall, East Africa is losing the
ETIS data also reveals the emergence of highest number of elephants as criminal
East Africa as the biggest source region gangs ruthlessly target the remaining
of illegal ivory, especially Kenya and herds to feed the seemingly insatiable
Tanzania. Between 2009-11, these two markets of Asia and, especially, China.
countries were the exporters of 16 out of If this is allowed to continue at the
34 large scale ivory seizures (weighing current rate, only a few significant
500kg or more) recorded worldwide, elephant populations will remain in
amounting to 35 tonnes. In total, Africa in the next decade.
© Hong Kong Customs and Excise
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