Vietnam's Illegal Ivory Prices Could Be World's Highest: TRAFFIC Survey

Prices of illegal ivory prices in Vietnam could be the world’s highest with tusks reportedly selling for up to US$1,500 per kilogram and small, cut pieces selling for up to US$1,863 per kilogram, according to a report by the wildlife trade monitoring organization TRAFFIC. 

 

The report, based on a survey entitled “An assessment of the illegal ivory trade in Vietnam”, found that the price hike was attributed to the soaring demand for ivory from local and foreign consumers and a restriction of supply.

 

TRAFFIC made its survey last year in eight Vietnamese localities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and discovered 11 per cent of total 669 surveyed retail outlets were selling ivory, totaling 2,444 items.

 

Most of the raw ivory used in 2008 was said to originate in Laos, with small amounts coming from Vietnam and Cambodia. Mammoth ivory from Russia is also used in small quantities. No African raw ivory was found.

 

TRAFFIC also found that the main buyers were Chinese, Thai and local Vietnamese, followed by American Vietnamese and Europeans.

 

This trend means that more pressure is being put on already fragile Asian elephant populations, Azrina Abdullah, director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia said.

 

TRAFFIC recommended Vietnam tighten regulations and confiscate and destroy ivory found for sale. (Young People)