JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - More African elephants are being illegally slaughtered for their ivory than are being born each year with organized criminal gangs cashing in on runaway poaching which could soon threaten populations in some regions, a report said on Wednesday.
Demand for ivory as an ornamental item is soaring in Asia, driven by the rising purchasing power of the region's newly affluent classes, alongside growing Chinese investment in Africa and demand for its resources.