Data from: Genetic assignment of large seizures of elephant ivory reveals Africa's major poaching hotspots

Poaching of elephants is now occurring at rates that threaten African populations with extinction. Identifying the number and location of Africa's major poaching hotspots may assist efforts to end poaching and facilitate recovery of elephant populations. We genetically assign origin to 28 large ivory seizures (≥0.5 tons) made between 1996-2014, also testing assignment accuracy. Results suggest that the major poaching hotspots in Africa may be currently concentrated in as few as two areas. Increasing law enforcement in these two hotspots could help curtail future elephant losses across Africa and disrupt this organized transnational crime.

当前大象偷猎的速率已足以对非洲象种群构成灭绝威胁。明确非洲主要偷猎热点的数量与分布区域，或可为遏制偷猎行为、推动象群种群恢复提供助力。本研究对1996年至2014年间破获的28起大型象牙缉获案件（单案缴获象牙量≥0.5吨）开展了遗传溯源分析，并同步验证了溯源结果的准确性。研究结果表明，当前非洲主要偷猎热点或仅集中于两个区域。在这两个热点区域强化执法力度，或可帮助减少全非洲范围内未来的大象流失，并打击此类有组织跨国犯罪活动。