"GABORONE, Botswana -- African and Asian nations where elephants are poached or their ivory is illegally shipped or sold [Tuesday] agreed on urgent measures to halt the illegal trade and secure the survival of African elephants."

"New data released Monday shows that if poaching continues at current levels, Africa is likely to lose a fifth of its elephants in the next 10 years.

Government agreed to apply 'a zero tolerance approach,' and sentence those convicted to 'maximum, and therefore deterrent' penalties to combat an upsurge in poaching and smuggling of elephant ivory since 2009."

Environment News Service had the story December 3, 2013. [2]