A report by Traffic, the wildlife trade monitoring network run by WWF and World Conservation Union (IUCN), has revealed that illegal ivory trading is increasing with East Asian lawbreakers importing ivory from Africa.

The main sources for the ivory are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Nigeria. Mainland China remains the biggest market followed by Thailand, the Philippines, and other Asian countries with about 92 illegal ivory seizures per month. Large hauls over 1 ton increased too, which “demonstrates greater sophistication, organization, and finance” according to Dr Sue Lieberman, the global species program director at the WWF who is responsible for running Traffic with the IUCN. The report will be discussed in a meeting at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in hopes of pressuring governments to take action.

“The relevant question is whether CITES is going to crack down or not, whether governments are going to show some political will,” Lieberman continued. “The Asian market is the key. It is thriving again in Thailand, and a lot of Chinese businesses have moved into Africa, for example timber companies, which means more ivory is coming out.”

On the other hand, Ethiopia was praised for restricting and monitoring their domestic ivory market as advised by CITES 4 years ago.

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