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M-Tecs
10-14-2015, 06:33 PM
The last line says it all.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/26-more-elephants-killed-with-cyanide-in-zimbabwe/ar-AAfrgo8?li=BBgzzfc

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Rangers in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park have discovered the carcasses of 26 elephants at two locations, dead of cyanide poisoning along with 14 other elephants who were found last week, officials said Wednesday.Patrolling rangers discovered the carcasses Tuesday, according to Bhejani Trust and the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. Bhejani Trust undertakes joint animal monitoring and welfare work with the parks agency
Parks spokeswoman Caroline Washaya Moyo said 14 tusks were recovered from these elephants and others were not recovered. She said rangers found 16 of the elephants in an area known as Lupande and 10 others in Chakabvi.
Washaya-Moyo said no arrests have been made and investigations are in progress. Rangers recovered one kilo (2.2 pounds) of cyanide and are increasing patrols in the park, she said. Cyanide is widely used in Zimbabwe's mining industry and is easy to obtain.
"The poachers were probably disturbed by rangers on patrol, which is why some of the tusks were recovered. Cyanide poisoning is becoming a huge problem here and we are struggling to contain it," Trevor Lane, founder of Bhejani Trust and a leading wildlife conservationist told The Associated Press.
Last week, the parks agency reported that 14 elephants were poisoned by cyanide in in three separate incidents. In 2013, as many as 300 elephants died in Hwange park after poachers laced salt pans with cyanide.
On Monday, environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri blamed a ban on Zimbabwean elephant sport hunting by the United States for increased poaching.
"All this poaching is because of American policies, they are banning sport hunting. An elephant would cost $120,000 in sport hunting but a tourist pays only $10 to view the same elephant," she said, adding money from sport hunting is crucial in conservation efforts.

JWT
10-14-2015, 10:11 PM
They crucify a legal lion hunter and whine that Americans aren't spending any more big money to hunt there? Wow. [smilie=b:

I used to want to hunt cape buffalo there.

white eagle
10-14-2015, 10:19 PM
poaching is never a good thing
no matter what the cost

Chihuahua Floyd
10-15-2015, 12:20 PM
#1. I don't think Americans can ban sport hunting in another country, but I an not a lawyer.
#2. I do believe there is a prohibition on importing of ivory and other trophies from elephant hunting.
#3. Americans are not the only people that pay big money to hunt.
Summation - Don't blame us!!!
CF

Schrag4
10-15-2015, 12:36 PM
Am I wrong in believing that the banning of ivory trade will lead to the extinction of elephants? Make it legal and not only will there be financial incentive to keep them alive, the price will go down. Make it illegal and the price skyrockets, and by definition, only criminals will be harvesting it - these people don't have the time or the will to do what's needed to preserve the species.

fouronesix
10-15-2015, 01:05 PM
Am I wrong in believing that the banning of ivory trade will lead to the extinction of elephants? Make it legal and not only will there be financial incentive to keep them alive, the price will go down. Make it illegal and the price skyrockets, and by definition, only criminals will be harvesting it - these people don't have the time or the will to do what's needed to preserve the species.

Yes, I think that's pretty close to the nub of it. The US can ban the importation of anything it arbitrarily wants to ban... many times only for reasons such as political correctness and vote buying. Doing so under the guise of elephant conservation is simply political smoke, nothing else. The primary demand for ivory is China. How does banning the import into the US of legally sport hunted or harvested ivory have anything to do with stopping the illegal killing of elephants destined for China? Probably has the opposite effect. Make no mistake- China doesn't give a rat's behind about elephant conservation, sport hunting, green energy, a clean environment, etc. The rhino situation in Africa is similar.

Col4570
10-15-2015, 01:05 PM
Ivory and Body parts are still in great demand through out China and India.The Chinese in particular have an unfounded culture of using Animal parts for Medicine.Until those who feed this trade are stopped the carnage will go on until many species are extinct.