Africa Ivory Auction
Published October 15th, 2008
The auction of more than 100 tonnes of ivory was approved in July by the UN-backed Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and auctions have now been scheduled in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
South Africa will sell 51 tons of stockpiled ivory, Botswana will sell 44 tons, Namibia nine tons and Zimbabwe four tons.
The ivory stocks up for auction come from elephants that have died from natural causes or from culling of herds, when animals are killed to prevent overpopulation.
Each of the four African countries will hold a single auction, staggered three days apart, beginning with nine tonnes of ivory on sale in Namibia on October 28, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said in the statement.
