Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Letter from Africa: Elephant in the room
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26330575
***SNIP
What does $19bn mean in the struggle to save the elephants?
It means that an elephant killer is no longer a lone bush tracker with a rusty rifle and a spear for back-up; that with billions at stake, organised crime can see money at every watering hole, in every country, through every porous border.
The poachers have global positioning satellite devices; they use rocket-propelled grenades and Kalashnikov rifles and carry off elephant tusks by helicopter.
The London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade concluded in its declaration that "there is a serious threat to the survival of many species if action is not taken to tackle the… trade".
