China and Japan, stop killing elephants
It's the Asians -- specifically, China and Japan, that drive the demand -- and the Africans are mixed about wanting to fulfill the demand. Mostly, it's the poachers -- but now, it's Tanzania and Zambia, who are looking to create a legitimate market for elephant tusks. A legitimate market drives demand, and also allows illegal tusks to easily slip through the cracks.
The elephant population in Africa has been decimated. Chad has a few hundred left. Senegal and Liberia has fewer than 10 each. Sierra Leone lost their last elephants in November. Elephants are currently on the endangered species list -- for a reason. Other African countries oppose any legitimate sale of ivory -- and are asking the world for help. It would say something if the governments of China and Japan stepped up and voiced support for biodiversity and an endangered animal. Of course, I'm not holding my breath.
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