Protecting elephants
Ivory trade is the main driver of the current catastrophic levels of elephant poaching. Our groundbreaking investigations have repeatedly documented the extent of the problem. We have identified the transnational criminal groups behind the trafficking of illegal ivory, exposed the corruption that facilitates their work and played a major role in shutting down ivory trade. We continue to work for the closure of all domestic and international markets.
The problem
The African savannah elephant in East and Southern Africa and the African forest elephant in West and Central Africa are in decline across much of their range, primarily due to poaching to feed the ivory trade. Asian elephants are also in serious decline.
Organised transnational criminal syndicates are involved in the ivory trade, fuelling corruption and conflict, and undermining the rule of law. Along with habitat loss and human-elephant conflict over diminishing resources, the ivory trade threatens the survival of these keystone species whose decline will in turn have a serious impact on the future of healthy ecosystems and economies.