Thread: Preban ivory is my favorite material for scales

I have only used preban. There is still alot of it in the US. I have never poached any animal and would never trade in.
Difficult. I finally reasoned that it was here before the ban was in place thus legal. If no one does anything with it then it will never be used.
Elephant numbers are soaring. I am very glad for that. There is an annual sale of legal ivory, most goes to Japan

Soaring?

African Forest Elephant Population Plummeting - ScienceNOW

I agree with Bob that the key here is to address the forces that drive poaching. Without that, any efforts to eliminate or even reduce the practice will be doomed.

Originally Posted by Cangooner

Soaring?

African Forest Elephant Population Plummeting - ScienceNOW

I agree with Bob that the key here is to address the forces that drive poaching. Without that, any efforts to eliminate or even reduce the practice will be doomed.

True.

Burning is not a solution to the root cause problem. But not burning would not fix the problem either, and -due to corruption- only make the poaching problem worse.

Originally Posted by Bruno

True.

Burning is not a solution to the root cause problem. But not burning would not fix the problem either, and -due to corruption- only make the poaching problem worse.

I just can't connect the dots between the total waste of burning confiscated poached ivory and corruption or the lack of it. The elephant has already paid the price, the poachers likely caught and dealt with and selling it would put money back into communities that drastically need it. We can't eliminate poaching all together but wasting any possible benefit from a dwindling renewable natural resource seems rather pointless.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

I just can't connect the dots between the total waste of burning confiscated poached ivory and corruption or the lack of it. The elephant has already paid the price, the poachers likely caught and dealt with and selling it would put money back into communities that drastically need it. We can't eliminate poaching all together but wasting any possible benefit from a dwindling renewable natural resource seems rather pointless.

Bob

It's really simple.

If you allow poahed ivory to be sold after confiscation, the following will happen:

1) poachers will allow ivory to be confiscated by corrupt officials.
2) the corrupt officials will sell the ivory, and the poachers will get their cut of the money.
3) poaching will still be profitable and just continue under a new format.

Corrupt officials in African countries are a given.
If you allow the ivory to be sold at all, poaching will continue because the poachers will still get their cut of money.

You're right that it won't matter to the elephant who is already dead. But as long as you allow the ivory from that elephant to be profitable, there will be a next elephant which will be killed.

If you hunt the Elephant legally during a Cull Hunt, then it is your choice what to do with the Ivory, most end up hanging on a wall, they are after all the "Trophy"

This is why there is poaching, there is no "Commercial" Ivory

I'd like ivory a lot more if its favorite pastime weren't finding new and interesting ways of cracking. Over the long-term, most of it will not remain intact unless it's specifically cared for.

Hey Bruno

That point is there will always be "another elephant" whether you sell the confiscated poached ivory or not. Nobody wants to address the root causes and there is too much money to be made. Burning the confiscated poached ivory, which is a very small amount compared to the total poached, just gives the illusion that something concrete is being done when it really isn't and that satisfies most of the rest of the planet. Everyone likes to feel good. Anyway everyone has a different view point.

Bob

Burning ivory is simply a photo op by people who want you to think they are doing something about the problem, “Shaking the bush boss”, Kind of like firing the head of the IRS weeks before he retires.

It’s not just Africa lacking in leadership…

I was under the impression that there was a way to tell if it was pre ban and the newer stuff. I think it's beautiful and would like to have a pair of tusk to display. I know that it's out there But the Price would be thru the roof