China Impounds DRC Ivory
Jan 01, 2003
CHINESE authorities in Shanghai are holding two Chinese traders for trafficking more than three tonnes of ivory believed to have been “loaded†(hidden in containers) in Kampala after it allegedly originated from the DR Congo, transited through Kenya and smuggled into China.
By Alfred Wasike
and Emmy Allio
CHINESE authorities in Shanghai are holding two Chinese traders for trafficking more than three tonnes of ivory believed to have been “loaded†(hidden in containers) in Kampala after it allegedly originated from the DR Congo, transited through Kenya and smuggled into China.
The arrests and seizure are worrying conservationists world-wide that the recent controversial move by the United Nations Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) to allow three African countries to sell off their ivory stockpiles is being exploited by poachers. China and Japan are the biggest consumers of illegal and legal ivory.
Investigations by The New Vision indicate that the Chinese ivory traffickers connived with some Ugandan traders with big connections in Government to smuggle ivory from the war ravaged DR Congo and concealed it in containers through a yet an unestablished shipping company in Kampala.
The ivory traffickers have been identified as Li Wenjian the manager of Shanghai Yanzi Industry and Trade Company, and Liang Zhiquiang, a businessman from Panyu Guangzhou Guandong. According to Wan Ziming of the CITES Management Authority in China, the traffickers were nabbed on September 7, 2002.
Elephants are highly endangered, according to CITES. But the 1989 global ban on ivory trade is being threatened by a CITES decision to allow South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana to sell more than 70,000kg. Poaching saw African elephant numbers plummet from 1.3 million in 1980 to just 600,000 in 1989, when the ivory trade was banned.
The Fund for Animals, the World Wildlife Fund International, IUCN’s TRAFFIC International, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and other wildlife conservationists have raised serious concern on the escalating trafficking of ivory.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) spokesperson, Lilian Ajarova said, “We condemn the export of ivory in the strongest terms. But we deny that as, an authority we had knowledge about the alleged loading of the ivory in Uganda and its transit through here.â€
UWA chairperson, John Nagenda said, “I hope it is not part of a conspiracy to implicate Uganda. Whoever is making the allegation should be able to provide where, how and when the ivory was loaded in Kampala and transited to that place.â€
Ends
and Emmy Allio
CHINESE authorities in Shanghai are holding two Chinese traders for trafficking more than three tonnes of ivory believed to have been “loaded†(hidden in containers) in Kampala after it allegedly originated from the DR Congo, transited through Kenya and smuggled into China.
The arrests and seizure are worrying conservationists world-wide that the recent controversial move by the United Nations Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) to allow three African countries to sell off their ivory stockpiles is being exploited by poachers. China and Japan are the biggest consumers of illegal and legal ivory.
Investigations by The New Vision indicate that the Chinese ivory traffickers connived with some Ugandan traders with big connections in Government to smuggle ivory from the war ravaged DR Congo and concealed it in containers through a yet an unestablished shipping company in Kampala.
The ivory traffickers have been identified as Li Wenjian the manager of Shanghai Yanzi Industry and Trade Company, and Liang Zhiquiang, a businessman from Panyu Guangzhou Guandong. According to Wan Ziming of the CITES Management Authority in China, the traffickers were nabbed on September 7, 2002.
Elephants are highly endangered, according to CITES. But the 1989 global ban on ivory trade is being threatened by a CITES decision to allow South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana to sell more than 70,000kg. Poaching saw African elephant numbers plummet from 1.3 million in 1980 to just 600,000 in 1989, when the ivory trade was banned.
The Fund for Animals, the World Wildlife Fund International, IUCN’s TRAFFIC International, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and other wildlife conservationists have raised serious concern on the escalating trafficking of ivory.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) spokesperson, Lilian Ajarova said, “We condemn the export of ivory in the strongest terms. But we deny that as, an authority we had knowledge about the alleged loading of the ivory in Uganda and its transit through here.â€
UWA chairperson, John Nagenda said, “I hope it is not part of a conspiracy to implicate Uganda. Whoever is making the allegation should be able to provide where, how and when the ivory was loaded in Kampala and transited to that place.â€
Ends