africa: Discovery of illegal ivory haul triggers poaching fears

South Africa has still not found a buyer for the 30 tons of ivory it wants to sell. The country was last year given the go-ahead by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) to do a once-off sale of its ivory stockpile. But the discovery of a huge illegal haul of ivory from Africa has sparked fears that poaching is on the rise on the continent since the Cites decision. The ivory, valued at more than R700 000, came from Mali and arrived at Bangkok International Airport last Monday.