Will Myanmar’s elephants die out because their skin is being made into jewellery?

With the ivory trade virtually dead, poachers are coming up with new markets for elephant products – much to the horror of campaigners

The extent to which humans can find a use for every part of an elephant seems infinite. Once, it was a desire for ivory that was to blame for the destruction of populations, but now that countries have cracked down on that – including a ban in the UK on the sale of antique ivory – markets for other products are being found. The latest fad is for elephant skin, which is being sold as jewellery and a cure for eczema.

In Myanmar there are thought to be only 1,000-2,000 elephants left, down from 10,000 two decades ago. Female Asian elephants, which were always protected to a degree because they don’t have tusks, are now being targeted.

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from The Guardian http://ift.tt/2hZ84DQ