Make the Ban on Ivory Sales Permanent

Poaching, not habitat loss, is the leading reason for the decline of African elephant populations. An estimated 20,000 elephants are killed annually for their ivory tusks. And now, the international ban on trading ivory is being relaxed, encouraging poachers to intensify their slaughter of elephants.

As a result of these changes, the governments of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe recently sold 119 tons of ivory, which equates to the tusks of 10,000 dead elephants. Proponents of ivory sales argue that this is legal ivory, but it's too hard to ensure that illegal poaching won't increase as a result of these sales.

Elephant protection areas are meant to keep them safe, but 84 percent of African elephants range outside of protected areas, where poachers continue to hunt. Without a complete ban on ivory sales, elephants will continue to be killed for their tusks.

A permanent ban is the only effective way to end elephant poaching and keep these majestic creatures safe. Tell Willem Wijnstekers, Secretary General of International Environment House, to make the ban of elephant ivory permanent.