Illegal Wildlife Trade Campaign

[Cleoriff]

A global campaign has been launched to try and stamp out the illegal trade in wildlife

Conservationists are hoping the public can help.They have developed a smartphone app that allows people to submit images and data of suspicious items on sale, possibly helping enforcement agencies.

http://www.wildlifewitness.net/

In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the poaching of threatened species which affects the long-term survival of iconic animals such as tigers and rhinos.

Some horrific and sickening statistics below

Activity in the illegal ivory trade has more than doubled since 2007, with ivory reaching a price of US $2,205 (£1,526) per kilogram in Beijing.

Rhino horn was reaching mind-blowing prices of US $66,000 per kilogram - more than the price of gold or platinum.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36226312

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[Cleoriff]

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@viridis wrote:
I saw one story where horns and tusks were dyed pink to make them worthless in market, apparently it was working at reducing poaching.

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I saw it...thought it was a great idea...until I read that the image was photoshopped and apparently it wasn't feasible for elephants

 However... it is being looked at for Rhino by the Rhino Rescue project...

http://www.animalhearted.com/blogs/animal-blog/54647747-are-elephant-tusks-and-rhino-horns-being-dye...

[Toby]

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@Bambino wrote:

What needs to happen is that people need to be educated, and to learn that elephant tusk or rhino horn won't cure anything, and these myths and old wive's tales need to disappear from folklore once and for all. If they don't, the only way they'll be dispelled is when these animals are hunted to extinction.

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This is how I feel too @Bambino, the demand will always be there if beliefs about the medical benefits exist.