Ivory buyers will ‘wipe out elephants in 10 years’ says wildlife expert, pointing blame at Chinese traders
Testimony at legislature comes ahead of bill to ban import, re-export of ivory
A former wildlife crime investigator from Africa has pointed to Chinese individuals as being the major brokers currently active in Zambia’s illegal ivory trade, calling on the Hong Kong government to ban the trade as soon as possible.
Josias Mungabwa’s appeal comes as traders are demanding compensation of HK$2 billion over the move to ban the selling of imported ivory products by 2021. But a government source said the city’s Environment Bureau would not grant such compensation as doing so would set a bad precedent.
On June 14, Hong Kong lawmakers are slated to formally present for consideration the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants (Amendment) Bill.
The amended bill would ultimately phase out local ivory businesses by 2021, with steps to ban for commercial purposes the trade and possession of all elephant hunting trophies and ivory carvings. It would also nullify all possession licenses.