Protecting Biodiversity: Driving Force for Destruction of Elephants

PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY

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Driving Force for Destruction of Elephants
The demand for Ivory mostly in Asia as led to the slaughter of Africa Elephants. In the 1980's, Japan led in the demand for ivory resulting in the slaughter of thousands of elephants CITATION The \l 1033 (The Economist, 2013). During the period, Japan was importing up to 500 tons of ivory equating to 50,000 elephants a year. The high demand for ivory in Japan was for the buoyant Japanese traditions of making name seals that are commonly used to seal business deals and for use in kimono toggles or netsuke. China has taken the demand presently promoting the largest ivory import than in the 1980's. The Chinese demand for ivory has become difficult to counter.
Shark Fin Trade
The shark fin trade is threatening shark populations around the world CITATION Jac12 \l 1033 (Schneider, 2012). Shark fining involves removing or retaining shark fins and the remainder of the shark is then thrown back to the sea CITATION Shana \l 1033 (Shark Truth, n.a). When sharks are returned without their fins, they are always alive but unable to move well enough hence they sink. After sinking, they die from suffocation or are preyed by other predators. Watts (2003) states that the shark fin trade is very profitable with a very high demand, shark fins are mostly used to make traditional cures and ...