Campaign actions
We are already hard at work advising governments on ways to save animals by stopping poachers, traders and sellers. Earlier this year when foreign invaders killed 300 elephants northern Cameroon, we pushed for a strong military response to the slaughter. Since then, Cameroon has increased protections at all of its parks, including hiring hundreds of new rangers.
Cameroon and its fellow Central African governments have also agreed to take action to catch criminals and send them to jail. And Gabon has burned its entire ivory stockpile to ensure that seized tusks don't leak into illegal trade. WWF stood side by side with the president as he committed to close illegal ivory and bush meat markets and to stop elephant poaching for good.
Growing wealth in Asia, particularly in China, has resulted in an increase in the number of consumers with the means to purchase such products. In addition, a dramatic spike in demand for rhino horn in Vietnam has been driven by a recent myth that rhino horn cures cancer, and renewed interest in other non-traditional medicinal uses.
With our partner TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, we are making it harder for people to buy illegal goods. Through our efforts, China's top e-commerce companies have pledged that they will not allow any tiger, rhino or elephant products to be sold on their sites.
We need your help telling others that its illegal to buy these products. Even if you see ivory for sale in a fancy shop on your Asian vacation, its a crime to bring it home. Please don't contribute to the poaching of elephants by purchasing ivory.
Cameroon and its fellow Central African governments have also agreed to take action to catch criminals and send them to jail. And Gabon has burned its entire ivory stockpile to ensure that seized tusks don't leak into illegal trade. WWF stood side by side with the president as he committed to close illegal ivory and bush meat markets and to stop elephant poaching for good.
Reducing demand
The current demand for endangered species products in Asia is unprecedented and largely driven by demand for medicinal products, such as rhino horn and tiger parts, or as a demonstration of economic and social status, through products like ivory and rhino horn carvings or tiger bone wine.Growing wealth in Asia, particularly in China, has resulted in an increase in the number of consumers with the means to purchase such products. In addition, a dramatic spike in demand for rhino horn in Vietnam has been driven by a recent myth that rhino horn cures cancer, and renewed interest in other non-traditional medicinal uses.
With our partner TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, we are making it harder for people to buy illegal goods. Through our efforts, China's top e-commerce companies have pledged that they will not allow any tiger, rhino or elephant products to be sold on their sites.
We need your help telling others that its illegal to buy these products. Even if you see ivory for sale in a fancy shop on your Asian vacation, its a crime to bring it home. Please don't contribute to the poaching of elephants by purchasing ivory.
One of hundreds of elephants killed in a single incident in Northern Cameroon
Between January and March of this year, heavily-armed foreign poachers invaded Cameroon and killed over 300 elephants in Bouba N’Djida National Park. Since the incident, which drew worldwide media attention, Cameroon has moved to bolster security in its protected areas, including deploying 60 new ecoguards to secure Bouba N’Djida and monitor the park’s remaining wildlife. Two rangers recently received gunshot wounds while pursuing a potential poacher adjacent to the park.
