Minister of Justice of the Republic of Congo: Save elephants by assuring the prosecution of ivory traffickers

Almost two thirds of forest elephants have been lost to the ivory trade, which survives due to the greed of corrupt officials and international ivory traffickers, at the expense of the planet's largest group of land animals: the elephants. Ivory trafficking networks thrive when they have impunity - if there are serious consequences to this murderous trade that can't simply be evaded with a bribe, we may be able to stop the slaughter before it's too late.

Yesterday, a man was arrested in Brazzaville with 126 kg (277 lbs.) of raw ivory (over sixty pieces). Brazzaville hasn't sentenced anyone for ivory traffic in over a year despite a law allowing sentences up to five years prison time and numerous ivory traffickers having been transferred to Court by various police forces.

We cannot let this impunity continue. These criminals rely on this to continue their operations and ending impunity of traffickers will help end the poaching of elephants across Central Africa.