DNA testing pinpoints ivory poaching hotspots

Annually, thousands of elephants are killed for their tusks, which are carved into curios. In late May, China publicly destroyed more than 600kg of ivory as it seeks to shed its image as a global trading hub for illegal ivory. Photo: AFP

The problem of elephant poaching might seem as vast and complicated as the African continent itself, but a new analysis from the University of Washington (UW) shows that the bulk of the slaughter is concentrated in just two hot spots: Tanzania in the east, and a protected ecosystem centred in Gabon in the west.

The findings can help guide efforts to crack down on illegal ivory trade, which is responsible for the deaths of as many as 50,000 elephants a year, said lead author Sam Wasser. “If poaching is happening everywhere, it becomes a very daunting challenge,” said Wasser, director of the UW Centre for Conservation Biology. “But if you look at where the killing is taking place, and we’re able to narrow it down to just two places, now you’ve got a real game changer.”