Oh, fer pete’s sake! Trade in elephant ivory has been outlawed for how long now? Are we supposed to believe that roving hordes of ivory poachers are still decimating elephant populations?
Alarmist twaddle.
There's 2 reporters; 1 in Africa and 1 in china. There are many, large, elaborate pieces available in china.
“Oh, fer pete’s sake! Trade in elephant ivory has been outlawed for how long now? Are we supposed to believe that roving hordes of ivory poachers are still decimating elephant populations?”
Yes, you are. It is still legal to possess ivory, as long as it’s “old”. There is a great deal of new “old” ivory, very popular in Asia.
Yes, because people would NEVER trade illegal products. How shocking.
Yes, as a matter of fact, there ARE roving hordes of ivory poachers.
I can only tell you what I personally observed during my safaris in East Africa during the 1980s and 1990s: poachers operating freely with the protection of corrupted government officials. Elephants and rhinos protected by guards armed with bolt-action rifles - until the guards were driven off by poachers armed with semi-automatic rifles, who then slaughtered the animals, took the horns and ivory, and left the carcasses to rot in the African sun.
The problem is real. Alarmist twaddle? No.