The biggest threat to poached elephants in Africa has been caught. Yang Feng Glan, dubbed the “Queen of Ivory” has been viewed as the ivory-trafficking mastermind at the center of a trade that has seen more than 500,000 elephants killed for their tusks for decades.
“The most notorious ivory trafficker brought to task so far,” the U.S.-based Elephant Action League said, describing Glan after her capture in the East African nation.
“It’s a very important arrest, the most important in Africa in the past years.”
– Andrea Crosta, Elephant Action League
Glan was the link between African poachers and buyers in China which is notoriously known for selling ivory from elephant tusks at staggering prices. The 66 year old woman has been charged with smuggling ivory worth $3 million between January 1st 2000 – May 22nd 2014 says State Attorney Nassor Katuga. She may have been involved in the international trade since 1980. Two local poaching suspects were also charged along with Glan.
They were charged with organized crime. Tanzania’s Chinese population is suspected of also financing poaching gangs’ purchase of weapons and vehicles, and paying to bribe officials who let her ring operate brazenly.
Glan was arrested in Tanzania which is known as “ground zero” for elephant poaching in Africa. A government source says 85,000 elephants were poached over the last five years for their tusks. The population of elephants has diminished greatly over the last 50 years. The number of the largest land animals may be at 35,000 in Tanzania.
“For all of Africa, the elephant population stood at 1.3 million in 1979, but was believed to have fallen to less than 500,000 by 2007, according to National Geographic. ”
The U.S. has banned the import of ivory into its country along with the sale of grandfathered ivory is banned in all states but Hawaii which critics say it gives a cover for smugglers selling “freshly harvested” ivory.
Glan’s arraignment occurred after another Chinese woman, Ms Li Ling, was arrested one week earlier along with four Tanzanians for aiding the smuggling of ivory to Switzerland. The smuggling included elephant tusks, 21 lion teeth and 35 lion claws valued at $127,334.
Despite the crackdown on ivory poaching, the cost of ivory has risen making the ivory trade very profitable.
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Never would’ve guessed an older woman was behind the murders for ivory from elephants. Let her rot in jail!
What a disgusting piece of crap. Who’d thunk a 66 yr. old woman was behind the smuggling of ivory tusks? Chinese people are some of the worst offenders against animals. They don’t care if they suffer or if they torment them. Whether if it’s to slaughter dogs for fur or food or whatever, they don’t give a damn about animals. I will never visit that country. I believe in karma. The Chinese who are involved in hurting animals will pay a price one day. They have to! I want to spit on her face!