A magnificent creature of epic proportions, the African elephant is the largest animal that walks the earth.
Despite their size and beauty, and roaming through various parts of Africa, African elephants find their numbers dwindling.
With approximately 415 000 roaming in the wild and their extinction risk classified as vulnerable, it seems that the African elephant finds itself under constant danger.
Earlier this week, Durban police arrested two men suspected of being rhino horn and elephant tusk dealers during a sting operation in the Point area.
Brigadier Jay Naicker explains the men were found with tusks, weighing 16.88kg and worth approximately R300 000. The arrest was made following the Point police receiving intelligence about the suspected dealers and immediately set up a sting operation.
Brigadier Naicker explains the two suspects were elated when they were contacted by a potential buyer. Meeting at a hotel, a police officer from the Point police station requested to see the product.
Without hesitation, the two men led the undercover police officer to their vehicle. It was then that their deal turned sour; when they were confronted by police officers from the Point Rapid Response Team together with the Endangered Species Unit.
With the two men in custody, the WWF explains that the illegal demand for ivory is the biggest contributing factor in elephant poaching.
Despite a global CITES ban on the international sales of ivory since 1990, the WWF claims scores of elephants are still killed to meet the demand of ivory products in the Far East.
While the WWF helps governments with conservation strategies, as well as improve protection and management, and establishing new protected areas, it seems poachers are constantly looking for loopholes in the system.
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