Commentary: Singapore�s ivory trade ban tackles elephant in room but work ahead a mammoth task
Singapore�s ivory ban is a win for conservation but we must double down on wider conservation efforts, says WWF-Singapore�s Kim Stengert. Kim Stengert Channel NewsAsia 17 Aug 19; SINGAPORE: This week marked the end of a long wait for Singapore to stop the sale of ivory and ivory products and a victory for those working to put this in place. Over the last six months, Singapore authorities seized an unprecedented amount of 38 tonnes of pangolin scales and almost 10 tonnes of elephant ivory worth more than S$170 million - with some close to the largest seizures the world has seen. Led by the National Parks Board (NParks), these acts of enforcement were a true testament of the country�s zero-tolerance to illegal wildlife trade. Just two days after the most recent seizure of 15 baskets containing 815 birds over the National Day weekend, Singapore announced the latest highlight of our fight against illegal wildlife trade: An ivory ban. THE WORK IS FAR FROM COMPLETE It is generally estimated...