I Never Approved My Tax Dollars to do That: Elephant Poaching

Elephant poaching is nothing new to the park rangers of Africa. But what is new is the increased organization, voracity and militarization of elephant poaching in the pursuit of precious ivory. Also new? The decisive role my tax dollars play.

According to a New York Times article from September 4, 2012, tens of thousands of elephants lose their lives each year to poachers who then hack away their tusks and leave the corpse to rot. Officials seized a record-breaking 38.8 tons of ivory in 2011, an amount accumulated at the expense of over 4000 elephants. Though poaching was a “job” previously thought to be reserved for the criminal type, the increasing demand of ivory from China has encouraged more participants to join the lucrative hunt. Ivory has peaked at $1000 per pound in some areas. At that price, and especially when compared to the minuscule salaries soldiers receive, one can understand the irresistible attraction of the ivory trade.

Efficient elephant hunting, however, requires proper weaponry. Proper weaponry costs money. Conveniently, the United States appears happy to help.

During 2011 fiscal year, the United States gave 456.1 million dollars to Uganda, 400.2 million to Sudan and 215.9 million to the Democratic Republic of Congo (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33591.pdf). Soldiers from all three nations have been caught and reprimanded for elephant poaching (see the above NY Times article).  To Tanzania, another area of active elephant poaching, the United States gave 501.7 million (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33591.pdf). In addition to funds, the United States also provides some armies, including the Ugandan military, the Congolese Army, and the South Sudan military, with training and assistance (see the above NY Times article).

I don’t dispute the need for foreign aid in many African countries. Poverty and disease are rampant and as a leading world power, we have a responsibility to aid weaker institutions and areas. Yet corruption is also a notorious problem. At the same time, ensuring that financial assistance reaches the rightful recipient is an impossible task, one that no amount of manpower, sanctions, or security could resolve.

My concern lies directly with the funding and training of the military groups that in turn use the US assistance to kill elephants and buy more weaponry from the sales of the ivory. In my opinion, stricter regulation and oversight should accompany further donation of funds. Conviction or acknowledgement of participation in the ivory trade should result in deductions or withholding of aid.

It’s simple: If abused, I want my tax dollars going somewhere else.  Preferably, I want them going away from the elephants.