ABSTRACT
Consider complications in the market for ivory. Among those favoring the legal trade of ivory are residents of Japan, Taiwan, and China, who treasure it, and hunters in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, who would like to supply it. Proponents of a complete ban on the ivory trade include many residents of Kenya, Zambia, Mali, and Liberia, who value elephants as part of their natural heritage, and residents of the United States, India, and European nations, who place a high existence value on charismatic megafauna. Without a ban, the elephant population fell steeply from 1.3 million in 1979 to 750,000 in 1988. With a complete ban between 1989 and 1999, affluent buyers could not obtain their treasures, and impoverished hunters lost their incomes. Compounding this international dilemma are debates over the size of existing elephant populations and the herd size necessary for viability.
