GP gets mad at what happens to our biggest land friend, the elephant. We certainly don’t like seeing the giants exploited on eBay. Back in July, China got the okay to import ivory of endangered elephants, but sure enough, products and sculptures made of smuggled ivory have found their way into China.

On Nov. 5, 2008 smuggled ivory sculptures were seized by the customs of Hangzhou, the capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province. Some 306 pieces of smuggled articles were seized by Hangzhou customs, then transferred to Zhejiang Museum of Natural History on Wednesday.

Just so smugglers will know their actions will not be tolerated, the precious articles will be shown to the public in the museum! They will be treated before shown, but, what in the world? They will be shown because of why? I am sure the display will discourage smugglers from doing any such future activities … NOT!

Good grief. Can someone tell me what China has on their mind by displaying these items? Maybe, just maybe, somebody smuggled these things in under a tunnel dug into the Great Wall of China.

It has been declared by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) that a ban on elephant ivory will be brought into force from 1st January 2009. This has been a result of a thorough investigation by the IFAW that more than 7,000 wildlife products were found listed on 183 websites spread over 11 countries and astonishingly 73% of the goods were made of elephant ivory.

This alarming discovery has caused panic as to the fast extinction of these wild animals including 20% of exotic birds, primates, big cats and some other animals.

“This very important step to protect elephants. With these findings and eBay’s leadership, there is no doubt left that all internet dealers need to take responsibility for their impact on endangered species by enacting and enforcing a ban on all online wildlife trade.

“eBay has set the standard for protecting elephants, now governments and other online dealers need to follow their example,” said Robbie Marsland, director of IFAW UK.

Sardonic as it may sound, this decision comes at the same time when a 100 tons of stocked ivory from the remains of 10,000 dead elephants is being legally put up for sale, which the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) says is taking place for the first time in ten years.

This sale is giving rise to doubts about the illegal trade thriving once again as it is a profitable business rivaling the illicit drugs and weapons trade. If this continues to go on, it is bound to cause severe damage to our eco-system by endangering the wildlife species.

Do you think such a ban would help the elephants? I don’t, but it may be a step forward. – via Telegraph.co.uk

Original image via Arno&Louise

If these images of what happens to elephants who are poached for their ivory don’t make you mad as … I almost swore here, but I don’t do that … then you are as insensitive as the people who seek out the ivory regardless of the creatures who must give their lives for it.

This is how poachers leave elephants.

For the gods!!! Give me a break.

Or for this guy who thinks he is god. Let’s rip his incisors out and see how he likes it.

Or even worse, to have their tusks thrown on a scrap heap.

Make you mad? How mad? Then do something.