Enough is Enough - stop the import-export of elephants

The elephants need you NOW more than ever !  

Reason for this petition :

The 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties ( CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
fauna and Flora ( CITES ) is taking place in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 23rd of May to 3rd of June 2019.
 CoP18 of CITES in Sri Lanka is our golden opportunity to express our opinion.Zimbabwe Parks and Willife management Authority wants to export to Chinese zoos, 35 the baby-elephants that are separated from their mothers.

«Last year Zimbabwe exported 24 baby elephants to China, ripping them from their mothers while they were still breast-feeding. Network for Animals led an international outcry about such wicked cruelty. «
Now, along with the 35 baby-elephants, eight lions, hyenas, four giraffes and unknown number of antilopes are captured to sent to their new owner Chimelong « Safari Park», in China where they will undergo training to give performances in the circus Auditorium.

Since 2012, Zimbabwe has captured and exported 108 young elephants to foreign zoo ignoring the opposition from neighbouring African countries, elephant experts and NGOs.

China imported 30 wild caught elephant calves from Zimbabwe in a move that took place on the very day China banned the sale of ivory ( 31st dec. 2017 ). unique coincidence!

The elephant calves were captured in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park on August 8, 2017. They were airfreighted abroad, according to a Zimbabwean government official who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal. The shipment was confirmed by the Zimbabwean Conservation Task Force.

Zimbabwe's elephants are listed under CITES Appendix II. This means that trade is allowed, provided the Zimbabwean authorities do not deem it "detrimental to the survival of the species" and that they are "satisfied the animals are legally obtained."
Zimbabwe alone determines whether the trade is detrimental or whether they are legally obtained. There aren't any independent checks from the international community or CITES. This must change as Zimbabwe does not listen to CITES.
There is no mention in the CITES regulations of the welfare or ecological issues that may arise from snatching juvenile elephants from their family herds in the wild. This must be added to CITES as we are going through global warming.

Why should we stop it?
This is a very evil procedure just to enrich a few but the bad consequence will touch the poorest of the country as the reduction of wildlife in the African forest will lead to the desertification of it – which is proved by scientists. The same with the asian elephants of Laos in Asia.
And this is against SDGs (The Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity).
African elephants are classified by CITES under Appendix II and Asian ( Laos ,...) elephants are under Appendix I.
Appendix I : species threatened under extinction.
Appendix II: Species not necessarily threatened under extinction but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
Our planet is under threat by the global warming. Zoos are, mostly planted in the middle of a urban areas and cities. Even a smallest zoo consumes space for the visitors to roam around . Hence this tendency to fill the zoos of China by emptying the Zimbabwe's forest is twice against the right solution for Global warming. The right solution is, to keep the animals in the forest where they are for the well being of the animals and the forest, and hence for the well being of the country and the planet.
What can we do?
Please sign the petition and the letter to the President Xi Jinping.

reference articles:

http://ens-newswire.com/2018/02/20/cites-ignores-illegal-import-of-wild-elephants-by-china/

http://ens-newswire.com/2018/02/20/cites-ignores-illegal-import-of-wild-elephants-by-china/

Nationalgeographic:https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141217-zimbabwe-china-elephants-zoos-tuli-botswana-south-africa/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/03/exclusive-footage-shows-young-elephants-being-captured-in-zimbabwe-for-chinese-zoos

Dear President Xi Jinping,

The recent news I read about your import of elephant calves from Zimbabwe to China's zoos, safari parks and circuses made me to do an intensive research on this issue. Since 2012, Zimbabwe has captured and exported young elephants to foreign zoos, circuses and safari parks, ignoring the opposition from neighbouring African countries, elephant experts and NGOs. China has imported the most of them.
China has also imported asian elephants even from Laos which are classified under Appendix I, endangered species.

In July 2017, a CITES Technical Committee visited Laos to investigate the trade in live elephants, among other species. Its findings were presented at the 69th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in Geneva in November last year.
The Technical Committee's report found that the trade in live elephants was indeed illegal, stating, "It is understood that the international movement of some elephants … occurred in contravention of the national legislation of Laos and CITES provisions."
But, while the Standing Committee called on Laos to improve implementation combating the illegal trade in animals and plants in other areas or face a trade suspension, no such recommendation was made with regards to the trade in live elephants.
Hence, « The double standard at CITES, therefore, benefits the more powerful and well-resourced countries, this includes China and not the weaker countries such as Laos».
Instead of helping your neighbouring countries like Laos and African countries, to preserve their forest treasure, you exploit them by doing the contrary. What happened to the great Chinese culture of more than 3000 years - the country of I Ching, and Confucius?
We, the people of the planet Earth, are deeply saddened by what is going on and we want it to change. The equity of the CITES decision making process needs to rectified. Respect for other species and their habitats must be considered as the most important of all the issues coming under Sustainable development Goals ( Global Goals ).
(The Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.)
We do hope that your participation in the coming CoP18 of CITES in Colombo, Sri Lanka this year will bring peace, honesty and friendship between human-beings and other species.
Thanking you,

YOUR SIGNATURE