Asias economic growth driving illegal animal tusk trade to record highs
Bidhu Bhushan Palo | @TheDollarBiz White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) Female with very long horn and calf. Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya (Copyright: Martin Harvey / WWF-Canon) Economic growth in China and other Asian countries is fuelling illegal trade of animal products such as rhino horns and elephant tusks to dizzying heights. According to a new report by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its UK-based partner TRAFFIC International, illegal rhino horn and elephant ivory trade in 2013 reached the highest levels in almost 25 years. The situation in Africa is worse than in any other part of the world. A record 1,004 rhinos were poached in 2013 in South Africa alone, which is a jump of almost 50% from the ...
