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(Doha)—Parties to the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES) today confirmed votes earlier this week to
maintain strong international protection for African elephants in
Tanzania and Zambia. This in the face of fierce lobbying to
commercialize ivory once again. Speaking from inside the
Sheraton Conference Centre where the vote took place minutes ago, Will
Travers, CEO of the UK-based Born Free Foundation and President of the
Species Survival Network, applauded the result: “Today, CITES acted in
the best interest of conservation and used the best scientific data
available to it to make its decisions – not emotional arguments by
vested interests. Confirming the commercial trade ban on elephant parts
and products from Tanzania and Zambia will help ensure that the future
of elephants across dozens of range States will not be jeopardized by
increased trade.” Travers continued: “In the face of
overwhelming evidence of high levels of elephant poaching, massive
international ivory smuggling, the involvement of organized crime
syndicates, and the high price ivory can fetch in the global
marketplace, CITES Parties had no choice but to reject the proposals to
downgrade elephant protection.”
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