Genetic assignment of large seizures of elephant ivory reveals Africa’s major poaching hotspots

TLDR

Poaching of elephants is occurring at rates that threaten African populations with extinction. The study aims to identify the number and location of Africa’s major poaching hotspots to aid efforts to end poaching and facilitate elephant population recovery. Researchers genetically assigned the origin of 28 large ivory seizures (≥0.5 metric tons) from 1996 to 2014 and evaluated assignment accuracy. The analysis indicates that major poaching hotspots are concentrated in as few as two areas, and increasing law enforcement there could curb future elephant losses across Africa and disrupt organized transnational crime.

Abstract

Poaching of elephants is now occurring at rates that threaten African populations with extinction. Identifying the number and location of Africa's major poaching hotspots may assist efforts to end poaching and facilitate recovery of elephant populations. We genetically assign origin to 28 large ivory seizures (≥0.5 metric tons) made between 1996 and 2014, also testing assignment accuracy. Results suggest that the major poaching hotspots in Africa may be currently concentrated in as few as two areas. Increasing law enforcement in these two hotspots could help curtail future elephant losses across Africa and disrupt this organized transnational crime.