But economic concerns also drive the poachers, who sell wildlife products such as tusks and rhino horn to meet demand abroad, mainly in Asia. Sebunya said something must be done to reduce demand for these products — especially ivory — as well as address the poverty and hunger that lures some Africans into poaching.
Zimbabwe has the continent’s second-largest elephant population, estimated at about 82,000. The number has dropped by about 6,000 in the last decade, partly because of poaching.