MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE (July 27, 2017)—The notorious leader of an East African ivory poaching network— Mateso Albana Kasian—has been arrested in Mozambique. Mateso was wanted by both Tanzanian and Mozambican authorities for orchestrating the slaughter of hundreds, possibly thousands, of elephants across southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique since 2012-2013.

July 17, 2017) – WCS is giving a member of the public a chance to help crush one ton of illegal ivory at the historic August 3^rd ivory crush at Central Park through a one-of-a kind sweepstakes opportunity.

July 12, 2017 – New York State will destroy more than one ton of illegal elephant ivory in Central Park at a high-profile, public event on Thursday, August 3rd at 10:30 a.m.

BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (June 29, 2017)—The first aerial assessment of the impact of Central African Republic’s recent conflict on wildlife and other natural resources in the northern part of the country shows that wildlife populations have been depleted in large areas of their former range, yet there is hope as some populations of Kordofan giraffe, giant eland, buffalo, roan, and other key species that still survive in low numbers.

June 2, 2017 – Northern Congo’s notorious elephant poacher and ivory trafficker Daring Dissaka, 39, has been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment. 

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN (May 24, 2017)—The first aerial assessment of the impact of South Sudan’s current civil war on the country’s wildlife and other natural resources shows that significant wildlife populations have so far survived, but poaching and commercial wildlife trafficking are increasing, as well as illegal mining, timber harvesting and charcoal production, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said in a report issued today.

MAY 10, 2017 – A new elite team of WCS-trained wildlife rangers in Tanzania graduated on May 6th and will be deployed in the Ruaha-Katavi Landscape, which harbors East Africa's largest elephant population. Ruaha-Katavi now has three such elite units to fight poachers. 

"We believe that the ban has played a significant role in de-valuing ivory. We also believe that the ban has increased motivation for enforcement agencies to enhance actions on illegal ivory trade."

 

New York  (Jan. 3, 2016)  –  Today WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) is releasing an English language version of China’s historic announcement on ivory made on Dec. 30, 2016. The text was translated by WCS.

December 30, 2016 -- China has announced today that it will close its domestic commercial elephant ivory trade in 2017.