Press Release
CITES 'COMPROMISE' WILL SPELL DISASTER FOR ELEPHANTS
14 June 2007
"For a number of years now we have been at the forefront of engaging South African National Parks and Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) on the issue of elephant culling and other management options for these sentient and threatened animals", said Animal Rights Africa (ARA) spokesperson, Steve Smit. "We have steadfastly opposed culling and live capture for commercial purposes of any elephants in South Africa."
Now with this latest, so-called, "compromise deal" on ivory sales, it is terrifyingly clear that claims by DEAT that they are managing elephants as part of their biodiversity mandate are just a dishonest political ploy. What is driving them are larger regional and global trade and technology agreements and their inhumane 'sustainable use' policies.
It is shameful that DEAT is intent on pushing for the continuation of the ivory trade. In spite of the overwhelming, irrefutable ethical and scientific evidence to the contrary, DEAT appears to be solely powered by commercial interests and trade that give no consideration for the rights and welfare of elephants and which are brutally killing elephants and transforming these intelligent, sensitive and sentient beings into mere commodities.
Over the years South Africa has been given permission at CITES to sell ivory on condition that the money obtained from the sales would go back into conservation and elephant conservation. This has not happened in the past and is not likely to happen now. Moreover, there is no monitoring mechanism in place – either locally, regionally or within CITES, to oversee this.
ARA, in discussion with senior DEAT officials only 10 days ago, was told that proceeds from these sales do not go back into conservation, but straight into general State coffers. What this implies is that our government is deliberately misleading the international community and playing a double game at CITES. Over and above the permission the region has obtained to sell 60tonnes of ivory, they have stated that they still want to sell an additional amount of 140tonnes (approximately 11 200 dead elephants) in the next few years. We are under no illusion that the South African government will push to resume culling in order to continuously replenish its ivory stockpile and will pressurise CITES to lift the new 9 year moratorium on ivory sales and approve the regular sale of ivory from so-called "legally culled" elephants".
"This CITES resolution will be signed with the blood of thousands of elephants who will die because of it. What a tragedy that the lives of elephants lie in the hands of political whimps and commercial thugs", said Smit.
For more information on this issue go to: www.animalrightsafrica.org/AgonyOfIvory.php
Animal Rights Africa Contact Details:
Steve Smit 082 659 4711
Michele Pickover 082 253 2124
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