Thailand has seized two tons of elephant tusks from Africa hidden in pallets labeled as mobile phone parts. This is the countries largest ivory seizure, valued at $3.600 million dollars.
THINK HOW MANY ELEPHANTS WERE KILLED...
Over the recent years poaching has increased, with much of the ivory going to Asia. The consignment, which originated in South Africa, was destined for Laos, possibly to confuse customs officials, as Laos has an agreement with Thailand not to check cargo in transit.
Ivory shipped to Thailand goes to carvers who fashion it into Buddhist statues, and jewelry. Thailand is also a transit point for ivory forwarded to other markets like China. Most craftsmen fear arrest and many have left to find new jobs. There is also a shortage of ivory because of the crackdown. Artisans are caught in the middle of the ivory war. Under the law, those importing and exporting endangered species are liable to four years in jail and a fine four times the price of the seized items. For eight months, elephant ivory has been hard to find since those who possess it were afraid to sell the products if they had no papers to certify the origin. Now many carvers are turning to making wood sculptures and carvings to earn a living.
Police, will for the first time be able to prove whether ivory on sale is illegal after a Scottish expert developed a technique to establish its age. It is only legal to sell ivory that dates from before June 1947.
January - February
Nature over the centuries is constantly evolving, some times in dramatic bursts other changes in more subtle ways. This latest change is slowly occurring both in Africa and Asia. Tuskless elephants are evolving in response to poaching. In Africa both males and females have tusks, in Asia only the males have ivory. First noted in Africa after nearly all the mature elephants were killed thru poaching and the war particularly in Uganda in 1970. Now China, who has less than 200 wild animals left has noted this phenomena also. The larger the tusks are the more likely the animal will be shot by poachers. The killing of tusked elephants is reducing the gene pool, the ones without tusks survive, preserving the tuskless gene in the species. What the future holds for these intelligent animals in their social structure is unknown. Herd behavior, male dominance, mating all will take on new roles. The tusks were a symbol of masculinity and a weapon to fight for territory and mating privileges. It is obvious that roles will change and in time there will no longer be those magnificent bulls carrying huge ivory which ultimately was their death knell.
Villagers in a province of Thailand see no shame in eating elephant meat. For those who treasure these amazing animals is is a repugnant idea. Despite the cultural shock of the national symbol finding its way to the dinner plates these villagers find it is a most needed and piratical practice. Only elephants which have died are eating and before cutting up the carcass a rite is preformed to apologies to the elephant for what they will do. These villages are very poor, especially since logging was banned so the meat is a rare but needed supplements for the people who also receive money for the carcass.
