The consequences of the complete ivory ban in the U.S.

I think it is a ridiculous overreaction which bans a renewable resource which could be sold for the benefit of species.

Elephants don't live forever and when they die naturally this is a resource African countries could use to protect wildlife. What is needed is more anti poaching measures. Countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe and Botswana have greatly expanding populations. What are these countries doing that those with falling populations are not.

Countries having the ability to earn an income from tusks gives better incentives for conservation than making them worthless. The problem is some governments wont spent the required amount on enforcement of current laws to control poaching.

Banning all ivory will make no difference, it is already illegal to poach and export this ivory, how will making it more illegal help.
 
@Monty, I disagree. Your assumptions are unrealistic.

The demand for ivory is far greater than what can be "harvested" from naturally dying elephants.
The value of poached ivory to criminal and terrorist gangs is an enormous obstacle for law enforcement to control.
The costs of truly effective anti-poaching measures would be astronomical. How many rangers, helicopters, jeeps would it take to cover such huge areas?
Your statements do not appear to appreciate the seriousness of the issue today.
African elephant numbers 'could fall by one-fifth' due to poaching | Environment | The Guardian
Poachers blamed for Zimbabwe elephant deaths - Africa - Al Jazeera English
http://asiancorrespondent.com/97085/shockingly-high-rhino-and-elephant-death-toll-in-2013/

So what is left?

Stopping all trade in ivory. It is harsh, yes, and penalizes those who hold older ivory, but given the rate at which poaching has grown in the past decade it is ridiculous to assume old measures can do the job.

It does not help that in Asia ivory is called "elephant teeth" and many assume they just fall out naturally. There are very visible anti-poached-ivory ad campaigns in China but the demand grows.
 
Why are South Africa and Zimbabwe and Botswana doing so well with their Elephants and countries like Kenya doing so poorly. Wouldn't it be more sensible to do what the successful countries are doing rater than making poaching more illegal.

These plans sound like they will reduce supply, not demand, meaning the price will rise even more giving poachers and smugglers even more incentive.
 
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