Horn trade legalization
Carine Kabunda
Econ 324
04/15/2014
Horn Trade Legalization The trade of animal horns should continue to be banned because that is a way of protecting endangered species. In this case, endangered species are animals that’s provides ivory such as Rhinoceros and elephant. First of all, let’s take a look at why this is such a controversial topic. Elephants are found in 37 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. They are source of bush meat but their ivory referred to as “White Gold” can provide a substantial reward for poachers. Poachers are illegal animal hunters, they kill and sell body parts of animal. “Skyrocketing poaching levels are driven by tremendous growth in the retail price of rhino horn, from around $4,700 per kilogram in 1993 to around $65,000 per kilogram in 2012. Rhino horn is now worth more, per unit weight, than gold, diamonds” (Rice2008). The raw ivory obtained by poachers is sold to wholesalers and craftsmen and is often shipped overseas before being carved into a variety of things such as piano keys, chopsticks, chess sets and jewelries. It has been reported that in June 2002, six tones of ivory was seized in Singapore. It remains the largest single seizure of ivory and the network behind this crime is yet to be prosecuted (Rice 2008, pg20). It is obvious that ivory is in high demand and poachers can make a significant amount of money off of it. To meet these high ivory market international demands, more elephants and rhinoceros have to be killed. The poaching of ivory in the 1970’s and 1980’s has led to a decline in elephant population. More than 1.3 million elephants roamed Africa in 1979. In 1989, there were approximately 600,000 elephants (Van Aarde and Jackson2006). In Kenya, un-carved Ivory was worth $2.50 a pound in 1969, $34 a pound in 1978, and more than $90 a pound in 1989 (Messer2000). Bull elephants with tusks weighing six or seven times more than those of females were the usual
Econ 324
04/15/2014
Horn Trade Legalization The trade of animal horns should continue to be banned because that is a way of protecting endangered species. In this case, endangered species are animals that’s provides ivory such as Rhinoceros and elephant. First of all, let’s take a look at why this is such a controversial topic. Elephants are found in 37 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. They are source of bush meat but their ivory referred to as “White Gold” can provide a substantial reward for poachers. Poachers are illegal animal hunters, they kill and sell body parts of animal. “Skyrocketing poaching levels are driven by tremendous growth in the retail price of rhino horn, from around $4,700 per kilogram in 1993 to around $65,000 per kilogram in 2012. Rhino horn is now worth more, per unit weight, than gold, diamonds” (Rice2008). The raw ivory obtained by poachers is sold to wholesalers and craftsmen and is often shipped overseas before being carved into a variety of things such as piano keys, chopsticks, chess sets and jewelries. It has been reported that in June 2002, six tones of ivory was seized in Singapore. It remains the largest single seizure of ivory and the network behind this crime is yet to be prosecuted (Rice 2008, pg20). It is obvious that ivory is in high demand and poachers can make a significant amount of money off of it. To meet these high ivory market international demands, more elephants and rhinoceros have to be killed. The poaching of ivory in the 1970’s and 1980’s has led to a decline in elephant population. More than 1.3 million elephants roamed Africa in 1979. In 1989, there were approximately 600,000 elephants (Van Aarde and Jackson2006). In Kenya, un-carved Ivory was worth $2.50 a pound in 1969, $34 a pound in 1978, and more than $90 a pound in 1989 (Messer2000). Bull elephants with tusks weighing six or seven times more than those of females were the usual
References: Duan Biggs, Franck Courchamp, Rowan Martin, and Hugh P. Possingham Science 1 March 2013: 339 (6123), 1038-1039. [DOI:10.26/science.1229998] (no date) What is CITES? Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Geneva: CITES Secretariat, available online at www.cites.org/ Andrew M. Lemieux and Ronald V. Clarke .The International Ban on Ivory Sales and its Effects on Elephant Poaching in Africa Dublin H. T Milliken T. and Barnes R. F. W. (1995 ), Four Years after the CITES Ban: Illegal Killing of Elephants, Ivory Trade and Stockpiles. Conniff R. DEFENDING THE RHINO. Smithsonian [serial online]. November 2011;42(7):64-72. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 15, 2014. Barnes, J. I. 1996. "Changes in the economic use value of elephant in Botswana: the effect of international trade prohibition." Ecological Economics 18 (3): 215-230. Khanna, J. and J. Harford. 1996. "The ivory trade ban: Is it effective?" Ecological Economics 19 (2): 147-156.