China - stop killing the elephants and rhinos across Africa!

Rhino poaching (especially across Africa) has reached unprecedented levels; most rhino species across the world are highly endangered and the current poaching pressure has arisen largely as a result of demand for rhino horn in China. Similarly elephant poaching across Africa has now reached levels not seen since the 1980's, also driven by demand for ivory from China. Recent estimates suggest 35,000 elephants are now being illegally killed in Africa per year. This is unsustainable. An international outcry is now required to force the Chinese government to stop the illegal trade in rhino horn and elephant ivory before it is too late

Petition Letter

Greetings,

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Wen Jiabao.

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Stop the illegal importation of ivory and rhino horn into China

Rhino poaching (especially across Africa) has reached unprecedented levels; most rhino species across the world are highly endangered and the current poaching pressure has arisen largely as a result of demand for rhino horn in China. Similarly elephant poaching across Africa has now reached levels not seen since the 1980's, also driven by demand for ivory from China. Recent estimates suggest 35,000 elephants are now being illegally killed in Africa per year. This is unsustainable. An international outcry is now required to force the Chinese government to stop the illegal trade in rhino horn and elephant ivory before it is too late
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Sincerely,

[Your name]

To sign the petition, go to http://www.change.org/petitions/china-stop-the-killing-of-elephants-and-rhinos-across-africa

Updates

British zoos put on alert over rising threat of rhino rustlers

British zoos have been warned their rhinos may be attacked by poachers because of the soaring value of their horns in the Asian medicine market. After a rumour that it could cure cancer, the horn is now worth more than $40,000 a kilo, and gangs have been breaking into museums and auction rooms in Britain and Europe to steal trophy rhinoceros heads. The fear is zoos – and live rhinos – may be next.

In an unprecedented alert, all 15 British zoos and wildlife and safari parks which hold rhinos – they have 85 animals between them – have been warned by the National Wildlife Crime Unit to tighten security and report anything suspicious to the police at once. "We have warned British zoos to be on their guard against the possibility of being targeted by criminals seeking rhino horn," said the head of the unit, Detective Inspector Brian Stuart.

To read complete article, go to http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/british-zoos-put-on-alert-over-rising-threat-of-rhino-rustlers-6296572.html

Last year was the worst year for ivory seizures since an international ivory ban went into effect in 1989. During 2011, authorities seized more than 23 tons of ivory, which represented about 2,500 individual elephants killed.

At the forefront of efforts to track this grim data is Tom Milliken, the elephant expert for TRAFFIC, the group that monitors the international trade in wildlife under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). In that role, the U.S.-born Milliken tracks and analyzes data related to the ivory trade and attempts to raise awareness of the importance of preserving one of Africa’s most iconic species. Milliken, who has lived in Africa since 1991, attributes the latest spike in ivory seizures to a seemingly insatiable demand for ivory in Asia and the increasingly sophisticated network of criminal gangs that are feeding the market.

To read complete article, go to http://e360.yale.edu/feature/traffics_elephant_expert_tom_milliken_on_rise_in_africa_ivory_trade/2486/

There are several practical and highly profitable ways to end the slaughter of Africa’s rhinos, writes Michael Eustace

IN 1910, South Africa was said to have 100 white rhinos. With great care and good management, the number has increased to 19000 today. There are also 2000 black rhinos in the country. In 1960, there were 100000 in Africa outside the South Africa, but by 1970 that population had fallen to 65000, and today there are only 3150.

If there had been no poaching from 1970, the black-rhino population in the rest of Africa, at its natural growth rate of 6% a year, would have increased to 700000 today. (There would not have been the habitat to accommodate that number of rhinos, but the arithmetic is interesting.)

To read the entire article, go to http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=162979

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