TNAG-1954-FCO40-2783-Trade-of-rare-and-endangered-species-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 206

PJ MAPB

BACKGROUND

CITES

1. Since 1970 the number of African elephants has fallen from

approximately 2.3 million to about 700,000 elephants today, although

numbers may be as low as 300,000-400,000. Currently some

80,000-100,000 elephants are thought to be slaughtered annually,

mostly by horrific methods.

2. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of

Flora and Fauna (CITES) lists highly endangered species in its

Appendix I classification (which calls for a total ban on the

trading in such species), and less endangered species in its

Appendix II classification (which allows for trade in these species

subject to strict licensing control). The 400,000 (species of flora

and fauna listed in Appendix I of the Convention include the Indian

elephant, several species of dolphin, the rhinoceros, the alligator

and the arclid. But the African elephant is currently listed by

CITES as an Appendix II species, and trade in ivory from the African

Elephant is allowed, subject to strict licensing control.

3.

The UK was one of the original signatories of CITES in 1973.

Since then the UK has played in part in strengthening CITES

controls, bringing more species under its protection and encouraging

other countries to accede to it. But HMG, along with many other governments, until recently held the view that a ban on trade in the

ivory from the African elephant might not be the best or only way to

protect the elephant. It has previously been argued that if all

trade is made illegal, the scarcity value of ivory might cause prices to rise, thus providing more incentives to poachers

Furthermore, African countries would no longer be able to use the

revenue from legal trade to improve measures taken to conserve their

elephants.

4. There has been increasing doubt about the effectiveness of

existing controls. The plight of the African elephant has been the

subject of growing public concern in recent weeks. There have been

newspaper campaigns and numerous television reports highlighting the

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