Zambia Backs Ivory Trade Ban
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LUSAKA, Zambia — Authorities said Sunday that they support a total ban on the ivory trade as conservationists warned of increased poaching in southern Africa.
The move comes as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana are seeking eased restrictions on ivory sales.
The four nations--all members of the Southern Africa Development Community, along with Zambia--have healthy elephant herds and want to sell ivory to raise funds for conservation.
At the U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Nairobi starting today, Zambia will back Kenya and India, which see any trade in ivory as threatening the future of elephants.
Zambia says lifting the ban could encourage poachers to hunt in its rich parks. The elephant population in Zambia is about 22,000.
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