Poaching of animals for animal products is and has been an issue for many decades. The poaching of elephants for Ivory is what troubled the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Humane Society of the United States. They proposed a solution to this problem, and they supported the ban on ivory trade.
Recently, the world has focused more on animal rights. People are becoming vegan and shunning animal products. The love for animals is on another level. That’s why the poaching of animals for Ivory is such a shameful thing. However, the prohibitionist regime and steps of the IFAW aren’t going to do any good. Banning the ivory trade is going to cause more trouble.
The surge in China’s ivory Black market came after the ban in 1999 and 2000. This proves that the stricter the rules become, the black market will thrive more.
So, it is wiser to legalize the ivory trade. Legalizing ivory trade will ensure, animals aren’t killed mercilessly just for Ivory. Poachers leave unsuspecting animals groveling in pain after getting the animal products. A controlled ivory trade ensures there will be no cruel killing. There are only 34 legal mammoth ivory manufacturers in China, and that’s saying something.
The prohibitionist steps of the government and animal rights organizations will do more bad than good. It will make finding Ivory more difficult, and the black market will thrive because of it. It will lead to a corrupt system that won’t be easy to fix. Banning ivory trade is not the solution for poaching, but legalizing ivory trade is.
