CITES ignores illegal imports of Zim elephants to China
(World News South Africa)

Durban - In the last two years, China has imported more than 80 live Asian elephants from across its border in Laos and almost 100 juvenile African elephants from Zimbabwe. They were all destined for zoos throughout China. According to wildlife investigator and film-maker, Karl Ammann, the Laotian Prime Minister last year publicly declared the trade in live elephants illegal under national laws. Furthermore, says Ammann, the transactions should not have been possible under the Convention in the Trade of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Asian elephants are considered a species threatened with extinction (Appendix I) meaning that commercial trade in Asian elephants is prohibited unless the...