Namibia pushes for ivory sale rights
NAIROBI: Southern African countries were pushing for the right to sell
stockpiled ivory at a conference to discuss trade in endangered animals and
plants.
Tirngeni Erkana, head of Namibia's delegation, said their proposal for an
annual quota to sell stockpiled ivory is justified because it comes from
natural mortality and legal slaughter to thin the herds rather than from
elephants killed by poachers.
The southwestern African nation has a stockpile of 35-36 tons, and wants to
sell two tons per year, he said.
``In my country, we have kept the level of poaching to a minimum,'' he said.
``On average we lose two or three elephants a year. It is a question of
monitoring the system. ``I do not understand why after we have taken
effective management of our elephants, we should be punished,'' Erkana said.
South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe have also submitted ivory sales
proposals to the conference of the United Nations Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species. Elephants, whales and other large
animals will probably steal the limelight from smaller animals and plants
during the 10-day conference, said Willem Wijnstekers, CITES secretary
general.
``Our discussions on elephants, whales and sea turtles, I am sure, at times
are going to be difficult and heated, sometimes even emotional,''
Wijnstekers said. ``This does not do sufficient justice to the many other
important proposals we will have to decide upon in the coming weeks.'' Some
2,000 delegates from 151 countries and scores of non-governmental
organizations dealing in conservation and environmental issues are at the
conference.
At least 60 proposals on different species will be discussed, including
whether to forbid all trade in the Asian urial, a wild sheep; the
coelacanth, a unique living fossil fish; the hwamei, a songbird; and the
Chinese happy tree. Debate on a proposal by Kenya and India to ban all
commerce in elephants is expected to dominate the conference.
CITES lifted a ban on limited trade in some elephant products such as
leather in 1997. Indian delegation head Suresh Sharma said although India
and Kenya both want to protect their elephants, India's problem is
particularly serious because of the 100-to-1 female to male ratio in the
Indian herd.
Only Asian male elephants have tusks. In African elephants, both females and
males have tusks. Both nations say allowing trade in any type of elephant
product increases poaching. Sharma said India has seen an increase in
poaching since CITES lifted the ban on the ivory trade in 1997 for the
one-time sale.
He said an average of 100 male elephants are killed each year. However,
Gordon Shepherd, director of international policy for the World Wildlife
Fund, wanted the status quo. ``It is not yet time to do ivory trade. It is
still a danger,'' he said. ``But it is difficult to poach elephants for
skins.'' (AP)
For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
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