Wildlife Poaching Threatens Economic And Security Priorities In Africa.pdf

Increased demand for ivory and rhino horn in Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam, is driving a surge in poaching in Africa. This demand is fueled by a rapidly expanding wealthy class that views these commodities as luxury goods that enhance social status. In Africa, a growing number of ready buyers serve as dealers to clients in Asia, further exacerbating the problem. Wildlife trafficking has doubled since 2007 and is now the fourth-largest transnational crime in the world, with yearly revenues reaching an estimated $17 billion.

China's rapid economic development and a sharp rise in private consumption have increased demand for ivory, with Chinese customers often unaware that elephants were killed to obtain their ivory. In China and Vietnam, rhino horn is widely regarded as an effective traditional medicine and has recently become trendy among young urbanites as a hangover cure.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) estimates that 25,000 elephants were killed in Africa in 2011, and the number is expected to be even higher in 2012. Rhinos are also under increasing poaching threat, with the number poached for their horns in South Africa growing from 13 in 2007 to 668 in 2012.

Poachers and facilitators are armed actors and military personnel, using sophisticated networks and the complicity of public officials to move ivory and rhino horn from remote areas to markets and ports of export. This perpetuates corruption and border insecurity throughout Africa. The illicit ivory and rhino horn trade is enabled by systemic corruption and exacerbates corruption by introducing high-value illegal products to influential individuals along the supply chain.

Poaching presents significant security challenges for militaries and police forces in African nations, which are often outgunned by poachers and their allies. Corruption and lack of sufficient penal and financial deterrents are hampering these governments' abilities to reduce poaching and trafficking. The illicit trade is also undermining African economies, with the Tanzanian government concerned that the country's elephants would be gone in seven years if current poaching rates continue.