In 1989, after two decades in which the world’s elephant population was halved, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned the trade in elephant ivory. Eight years later, after pressure from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, it down-listed elephant protection and allowed a one-off sale of ivory stockpiles from these countries. In 2007, it approved another stockpile sale.

A report, Making a Killing by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), has highlighted the tragedy of these decisions. Since the sales, there’s been a dramatic decline in wild elephants and poaching has escalated to a point where the future of the creatures is in doubt.

Download the full PDF: Elephanticide