Ninety per cent of the ivory confiscated at Nairobi airport is in Chinese luggage. Some say we are racist, but sniffer dogs are not.
There has been a big increase recently in poaching,with huge quantities of ivory going to lucrative markets in Asia including Japan and particularly China.
How do you think we, the average traveller to the African countries, can help?
We go on Safari and see the wildlife and the beauty of Africa but are we really aware of what is happening?
Surely we should make an effort to join and somehow support the Wildlife experts, and voice our horror at what is going on under our noses.
What do you think?
How can we help?

It would be good IF people check BEFORE they visit a venue to make sure that very same venue is not involved in any trophy hunting. That at least makes those venues (and their owners) aware that we as probable clients are caring about what's going on! Means STRENGTHEN the ethically acting venues by avoiding the hunting concessions!

Second bombared those nations which allow unethical hunting with emails (touism offices, airline - any promotion of such a destination should realise people are aware and caring!
As for example Namibia which allowed 5 precious desert elephants to be slaughtered by trophy hunters in 2008.
Or which still allows big cat hunting incl. Cheetah and Leopard
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...pards-2010.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-and-cites.cfm

One thing is and remains for sure: As long as stockpile sales of ivory will be allowed by CITES the poaching will go on.

I don't believe in stats which have been provided by corrupt African governments or are based on figures delivered by those Governments to CITES.

SV

Yes, thanks for that.
I also see that this week at the CITES meeting in Doha, that Zambia and Tanzania are presenting a proposal that they should be allowed to ' downlist ' their elephants protection status from Appendix 1 to Appendix 2, which, if granted, would allow them to sell 110 tons of stockpiled ivory.
Wildlife experts are aghast at this possibility which they say, will lead to another surge in poaching.
shj

Trophy hunting might not be the worst in that context as mostly the hunters don't sell the ivory because they "need" the tusks for displying how "great and brave" they are
But any hunting of elephants will lead to unmonitored shooting as the licensing states don't put any effort in making sure only those elis are killed which are licensed. For every animal shot on a trophy hunt at least 3 others die (wounded or exaggeration)

Stock pile ivory should be burned as Kenya did publicly in the 80s (or was it 70s?)

SV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqbqW...eature=related

SV,

Here's some absolutely disgusting video - see these hunters in Tanzania using very unethical practices of baiting Lions....... Notice something of the guide himself????

Hari

PS: Sorry - this is off-topic and nothing to do with CITES and Ivory or the awful epidemic of poaching all over the world..... but, related to SV's point of hunting.

That loser is sitting atop a tree...and dancing away after shooting the helpless Lion from that hide...what a coward.

Wealthy Americans and Europeans first hunted in Africa during their industrial revolutions. It's now China's turn. There will always be the "new wealthy" that think they are entitled to this disgusting practice. Until we make live animals more precious than dead animals, and include the local populations in the economic benefit of live animals, this will continue. I don't get the mentality, but it is human nature to prove they are "great and brave". All poaching in Africa and Asia, etc, is on the increase due to the economic downturn and the increased wealth in emerging markets. The areas are too big to protect and too expensive to add enough rangers. It breaks my heart and hurts all of our souls.

All wild animal parts should be illegal to own, sell or buy. Too many turn a blind eye to the problem. Money talks.

Sickening. The schmuk couldn't even hit the lion from about 20 feet.

Fair enough, I can see the attraction if you track an animal through the bush for days and use you skill to get close. That's 'hunting'.

But sticking fresh meat in a tree, and waiting for some poor animal to wander by is just the same as shooting fish in a barrel.
How can these people live with themselves?

Sign of the times!!!

I don't see it as a sign of the times. It's inadequate people (mostly men) with more money than they need.

Some people would buy a Harley Davidson. These guys seem to think its fun to kill a lion or elephant or leopard.

Christabir,

Do you have a link or anything else to show that the Chinese are undertaking hunting safaris in Africa?

For one, I met a lovely group from China while on safari in Botswana last month. All highly educated, immensely interesting people, quiet at sightings and certainly not loud in camp ...... in brief, a lovely group.

Hari

HariS - I guess you missed the OP.

http://www.savingrhinos.org/rhino-ex...on-crisis.html

http://news.mongabay.com/2007/0226-elephants.html

http://m.digitaljournal.com/article/292928

http://bushwarriors.wordpress.com/20...s-acquisition/

http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/med...item16034.html

http://m.theepochtimes.com/index.php...ntent&id=32389

Thanks for the links ..... i was asking about "hunting" and not "poaching" ...... related to post 2 and downwards.

In all those links, China is paying for the poaching, thus organizing the trophy hunting. Whether a Chinese person does the killing is just symantics. Hunting safari co's do market to China. Check any of them. I won't - don't want the "cookies" on my computer.

I don't really get your point, however. I've met lots of really nice Americans. Does that mean that no Americans are responsible for the deforestation of the Amazon, too? It's the same reasoning.