Specialists say there is no way to both legally trade ivory and protect these animals

Aug 8, 2014 22:05 GMT  ·  By
Specialists recommend that all ivory markets be closed and ivory stockpiles worldwide be destroyed without delay
   Specialists recommend that all ivory markets be closed and ivory stockpiles worldwide be destroyed without delay

In a paper published in the journal Conservation Biology this past August 7, specialists argue that there is no way to both legally trade ivory and keep elephants from going extinct.

Simply put, it appears that, if the world is to even stand a chance at saving this already endangered species from falling off the biodiversity map in the near future, all ivory markets must close.

What's more, the specialists behind this paper say that, all things considered, efforts must also be made to convince countries which currently hold ivory stockpiles to destroy them, the Wildlife Conservation Society explains.

As detailed in the journal Conservation Biology, such extreme measures are very much needed due to the fact that corruption, organized crime, and a lack of law enforcement are making the idea of legal ivory an utopia.

“If we are to conserve remaining wild populations of elephants, we must close all markets because, under current levels of corruption, they cannot be controlled in a way that does not provide opportunities for illegal ivory being laundered into legal markets,” says paper author Elizabeth Bennett.

“In the long term, the only sustainable solution is for the demand for ivory – the ultimate driver of the system – to be reduced. Until that happens, if elephants are to survive, we need to close existing legal markets,” the specialist goes on to explain.

Interestingly enough, it appears that there are some people who don't exactly agree with Elizabeth Bennet and her colleagues. Thus, certain folks say that the only way to save elephants is to legalize the ivory trade and closely regulate sales.