Tanzania leads in illegal ivory trade: Interpol
Policeman inspect three tonnes of illegal ivory. Tanzania is the leading source of illegal ivory in the East African region, a new report by Interpol shows. PHOTO/FILE
What you need to know:
- At the same time, the port of Mombasa accounted for the largest volume of seizures in Africa, with a total of more than 10 tonnes of illegal ivory intercepted between January and October last year.
- According to the report, which was released yesterday, about 30 elephants are killed in Tanzania daily, amounting to more than 10,000 yearly.
- Interpol says Uganda, though a landlocked country, is also becoming a transit route for illegal ivory mostly from Tanzania.
Tanzania is the leading source of illegal ivory in the East African region, a new report by Interpol shows.
By comparison, Kenya faced much lower rates of poaching in 2013 due to extensive law enforcement by the security agencies.
At the same time, the port of Mombasa accounted for the largest volume of seizures in Africa, with a total of more than 10 tonnes of illegal ivory intercepted between January and October last year.
According to the report, which was released yesterday, about 30 elephants are killed in Tanzania daily, amounting to more than 10,000 yearly.
PLUMMETING NUMBERS
“A significant portion of ivory illicitly trafficked to international markets, especially in Asia, is derived from elephant population in Tanzania,” said the report.
An estimated 22,000 elephants were killed illegally in Africa in 2012, representing a slight reduction from the estimated 25,000 jumbos poached in 2011.
Tanzania’s elephant population has continued to plummet in recent years.
In Selous game reserve, which boasted the world second largest elephant population at 70,000 elephants in 2006, the numbers dropped to an estimated 39,000 in 2009 and currently stand at 13,084.
“Moreover, the elephant population in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park has declined by 44 per cent since 2006 and now numbers approximately 20,090,” the reports states.
The report, which was launched at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi by Mr David Higgins of Environmental Crime Programme, also revealed that global large-scale ivory seizures reached record levels last year and most of these were impounded in East Africa or in transit to Asia.
“Eighteen large-scale seizures (of over 500 kilogrammes) accounted for 41.6 tonnes of illicit ivory in 2013. These seizures represent increases over previous years mirroring heightened rates of elephant poaching throughout Africa,” the Interpol report adds.
While poaching in Kenya has reduced due to more pressure by security agents on poachers, the country is being used as a transit route, with the Mombasa port becoming a favourite for poachers.
Interpol says Uganda, though a landlocked country, is also becoming a transit route for illegal ivory mostly from Tanzania.
