China Uncooperative In Reducing Illegal Ivory Trade

The Director of London-based Charity African Conservation Foundation (ACF), Arend de Haas, has said the Chinese government has not been supportive in African efforts to reduce illegal trade in ivory. 
Arend de Haas was speaking to Washington Times recently reacting to East Africa’s bid to US President Barrack Obama to use drones to fight poaching.
“China should increase law enforcement, coordinate with African governments and consider destroying confiscated ivory stocks to show their commitment to combat the ivory trade,” Arend de Haas said.
Khamis Kagasheki, Tanzania’s Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, has been spearheading anti-poaching efforts in his country, but wildlife groups say much more needs to be done.
“The Tanzanian government has not been alert enough regarding the rise in elephant poaching in the region and country,” de Haas said.
Tanzanian officials announced in July that more than 1,200 poaching suspects were arrested over a 15-month period that ended in March. 
It was not clear how many were involved in elephant poaching. 
Arend de Haas said official elephant-poaching statistics are lacking.
“Slow political processes and corruption within local security and conservation institutes are major obstacles to quickly implement effective solutions,” he said.
On his visit to the East African nation in July, President Obama discussed the possibility of using unarmed, unmanned aircraft to help overstretched park rangers combat the growing problem of elephant poaching in Tanzania’s vast wildlife reserves and national parks.
Wildlife groups estimate that 10,000 to 25,000 elephants are killed in Tanzania each year for their tusks and the number of elephants in southern Tanzania has fallen by more than half. 
Much of the ivory is shipped illegally to Asian markets.