Killing African elephants for their ivory is devastating a species that is already losing ground to a growing human population. In 2011 poaching hit the highest level in a decade with 25 000 elephants killed and its greatest impact in the Central African region. Although most of the world's countries agreed to ban international trade in ivory in 1989, demand has grown in Asia, driven by new wealth in China. The illegal ivory that is seized represents only a fraction of what gets through-and the number of large seizures has risen, evidence of organised smuggling syndicates. More on this article and other investigative reports are now available in the latest issue of National Geographic in the ORI Library.
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