Capital city artisan markets in Africa and their impact of elephants: a case study from the Republic of Congo

Abstract

Only the abstract and a short summary of the presentation and following discussion was published. All ivory observed to be sold by four retailers from September 1994 through to September 1995 in Marche Plateau, the largest artisans retail market place selling ivory in the Congo, was recorded noting the artifact sold, the price and the nationality of the purchaser. Much of the ivory was sold to people form neighbouring African states for re-sale followed by tourists from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. A total of 1,178 people bought 683kg of ivory with the North Africans buying the largest average weight per customer while the French constituted the biggest number of clients. There is evidence that the level of ivory sold in the Plateau market has increased significantly over the past three years. There has been an accompanying increase in the level of poaching of elephants in the Congo.