Autumn 2018
This October two international conferences will focus on the trade in endangered species providing Elephant Family with important platforms from which to champion Asia’s elephants. Our aims are to have the plight of the Asian elephant recognised at an international level, bringing greater attention to the illegal trade – especially in skins – and to ensure that the protection of the species is adequately enforced.
The two conferences at which Elephant Family will be represented are:
70th CITES Standing Committee – Sochi 1 to 5 October
The Russian Federation will host the 70th CITES Standing Committee. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
The Asian elephant is already afforded the highest level of protection under international law (Appendix I), our aim is to ensure that the protection on paper translates to protection on the ground.
(Read more about CITES here)
Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference – London 11 to 12 October
The UK government is hosting an international conference about the illegal wildlife trade on 11 to 12 October 2018. The conference will bring together global leaders to help eradicate illegal wildlife trade and better protect the world’s most iconic species from the threat of extinction.
(Read more about the IWT here)
Elephant Family has already had an Op-ed published in The Independent newspaper explaining why the IWT must shine a spotlight on the plight of Asia’s elephants – you can read it here
Our work on exposing the illegal trade in Asian elephant skin has also received global attention. You can read more about it here.
We will update this page with links to this important work – and its outcomes – as we prepare for the conferences over the coming weeks.
PRESS RELEASE – October 3
Important victory for Asia’s elephants at CITES paves the way for increased protection
PRESS RELEASE – October 1
Blood beads: the trade that could tip Asia’s elephants toward extinction
Elephant Family’s IWT Pledge read by our Conservation Programme Manager, Caitlin Melidonis