Sam Wasser, a conservation biologist at the University of Washington, is calling for a moratorium on the sale of elephant tusks. Through DNA analysis he has concluded that 8% of the world’s elephant population is being killed each year by poachers. Wasser has also concluded that most of the black market ivory being seized is coming from Zambia and Tanzania; two countries who are petitioning to have the ban of selling elephant ivory lifted at this years CITES conference.
An elephant being skinned and for meat and tusks by poachers after it was killed.
The head of an African elephant.
Conservation biologists Samuel Wasser (left) and Benezeth Mutayoba remove a piece of elephant tusk for DNA extraction.
A graph comparing Mikumi and Amboseli elephant group sizes. Mikumi is subject to poaching, Amboseli is not.
To read the full article about Wasser’s findings, click here
