African elephants have faced a devastating surge in poaching in the past decade. Ivory prices reached $1,000 per pound on the Chinese market in 2012 as reports emerged of militant groups in Africa conducting mass elephant slaughters to fund their operations.
The African elephant population plummeted an estimated 30%. Conservation groups worldwide have been scrambling to get the message out.
I’m happy to tell you that the combined global efforts have paid off. China, which is responsible for purchasing 70% of the world’s ivory, recently committed to shutting down its domestic ivory trade. China pledged to close dozens of its 34 licensed carving factories and 143 retailers in March 2017, and to shut down all of them and ban the commercial processing and sale of modern ivory by the end of 2017.
We hope this will enable the dwindling elephant population to bounce back. Read more about this in PASA’s Latest News.
China Is a Hub of Great Ape Trafficking
The proliferation of small, unaccredited zoos in China has created a new demand for wildlife to fill their cages and enclosures, which has driven prices to shocking heights. It’s likely that thousands of great apes have been smuggled to China for this purpose. Infant chimpanzees have been trafficked to China for as much as $25,000 and gorillas for $40,000. In addition to being sold to zoos, these animals become victims of the illegal pet trade and the entertainment industry. China might be the most important country for wildlife protection.
China’s use of great apes in entertainment is particularly disturbing. The incredibly popular reality TV show “Wonderful Friends” paired celebrities with wildlife in unnatural and sometimes dangerous situations. This perpetuates the belief that great apes are suitable pets, rather than wild animals urgently in need of protection. Thanks to international backlash, there will not be a second season of the show.
An estimated 3,000 great apes disappear from the wild every year.
Yet apes aren’t in the headlines like elephants and rhinos are. Sometimes they almost seem to be forgotten. Together, we can change this.
Now that China has made a monumental decision to protect an iconic African species, this is the perfect time to intensify PASA’s campaign to raise awareness about the desperate plight of Africa’s primates. Rising international pressure can encourage the Chinese government, as well as other governments, to crack down on the trafficking of great apes.
Our campaign is only as strong as the people who support it.
Africa’s endangered primates urgently need you. Make your voice heard by donating today.
With your contribution to PASA, you will be a part of the global movement to bring primate conservation to the forefront and make change happen.
Time is running out. Please donate now to save our closest relatives from extinction.
All best wishes,
Gregg Tully
Executive Director
Pan African Sanctuary Alliance
P.S. The great apes are depending on YOU.
Links:
Project Reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you will get an e-mail when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports via e-mail without donating.
We'll only email you new reports and updates about this project.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
Make a monthly donation & get 
