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The group observed that despite the ban, the illegal ivory trade
has continued because of huge demand in Asia, where it is used to
make decorative objects.
A statement by TRAFFIC, states that "The escalating large ivory
quantities involved in 2011 reflect both a rising demand in Asia
and the increasing sophistication of the criminal gangs behind the
trafficking," The statement further further to state that
"Most illegal shipments of African elephant ivory end up in either
China or Thailand."
TRAFFIC said there had been at least 13 large seizures of ivory
this year, amounting to more than 23 tonnes, compared to six last
year of less than 10 tonnes.
"In 23 years of compiling ivory seizure data... this is the worst
year ever for large ivory seizures. 2011 has truly been a horrible
year for elephants," TRAFFIC's elephant expert Tom Milliken said.
TRAFFIC said the smugglers appear to have shifted away from using
air to sea - in early 2011, three of the large scale ivory
seizures were at airports but later in the year most were found in
sea freight.
"The only common denominator in the trafficking is that the ivory
departs Africa and arrives in Asia, but the routes are constantly
changing, presumably reflecting where the smugglers gamble on
being their best chance of eluding detection," it said.
In six of the large 2011 seizures, Malaysia was a transit country
in the supply chain, TRAFFIC said.
In the most recent case on 21 December, Malaysian authorities
seized hundreds of African elephant tusks worth about $1.3 million
(£844,000) that were being shipped to Cambodia.
The ivory was hidden in containers of handicrafts from Kenya's
Mombasa port, TRAFFIC said.
Mr Milliken said despite the seizures, there were generally few
arrests. "I fear the criminals are winning," he said.
Some environmental campaigners say the decision to allow some
southern African countries, whose elephants populations are
booming, to sell their stockpiles of ivory has fuelled the illegal
trade.
Those countries - South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe -
however, deny this and argue they should be rewarded for looking
after their elephant populations.
Main/Other Sources of this news item:
Elephant poaching: 'Record year' for ivory seizures - BBC News
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