Concern over legal ivory fuelling illegal trade
The South African Government has confirmed that China would be a potential destination for its legal ivory, if China gains approval as a trading partner from CITES this July, reports Business Day
Legal ivory sold to China 'could end up in illicit market' reach
Business Day
17 April 2008
CAPE TOWN - China, one of the centres of trade in illicit ivory, is on the list as a customer for the 30 tons of legal ivory which SA has permission to sell on world markets.
Despite being a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) trade in illegal ivory has flourished in China. Its emerging middle class has such an appetite for ivory carvings and jewellery that in 2005 Richard Leakey, the renowned anthropologist, warned that the enormous economic growth in China posed a huge threat to African elephants.
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