Houston an epicenter in fight against global elephant slaughter Port of Houston among worst in world for ivory smuggling operations

Basketball giant Yao Ming visited Africa to see first hand the plight of elephants and Rhinos killed every day for their ivory. Basketball giant Yao Ming visited Africa to see first hand the plight of elephants and Rhinos killed every day for their ivory. Photo: Kristian Schmidt / Wild Aid Photo: Kristian Schmidt / Wild Aid Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Houston an epicenter in fight against global elephant slaughter 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

Former Houston Rockets star Yao Ming is starring in a film designed to persuade people to stop buying ivory and end the slaughter of elephants as poaching for ivory reaches its highest levels since the initial ivory ban in 1989.

In recent years, the value of the scarce material has skyrocketed from $5 a pound in 1990 to $1,500 in 2014, according to animal welfare campaigners. Estimates say 33,000 elephants are killed each year for their precious tusks.

"We are pretty much in an emergency situation now," said Peter Knights, who traveled to Africa with the basketball star.

Statistics show Houston has a part to play in that.

The Bayou City sees more illegal ivory seizures than any other U.S. port, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, with dozens of raw tusks and ivory carvings seized since 2009.

The first part of Yao's film, made in conjuction with Wild Aid, was shown in China Monday. That nation is the world's largest importer of illegal ivory. America comes in second, so an international version will hit the States in the fall.

The movie, "End of the Wild," sees Yao encounter the bodies of five elephants, butchered for their tusks by poachers in Nairobi, Kenya. Rhinos are also featured as their numbers also plummet. Wild Aid says 95 percent of the world's Rhino population has been lost in the last 40 years.

"I believe what people will see in those pictures, [they] will remember it," Yao said in a news release. "That's what we're here for: film this, bring it back home ... and show everybody the reality."

Demand in Yao's home country of China is, in part, fueling the increase in demand for ivory, according to researchers. There, an emerging middle class that wants the same trinkets and ornaments as the rich are the culprits.

Much of the rest of the blame falls at the feet of the U.S., they say.

A 1989 ban still allowed antique ivory, judged to be over 100 years old, within American borders. At first the ivory trade was stopped in its tracks but experts say now that rule is being routinely flouted and new ivory from new kills is being passed off as old.

A simple search of Live Auctioneers reveals sales at auction are up from just 28 in 1999 to 17,675 in 2013, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

"Some store fronts are packed with ivory – packed," said Peter LaFontaine from IFAW, "No one is looking at documentation or papers to check it is actually antique."

Keeping illegal ivory out of U.S. borders falls to U.S. Fish and Wildlife inspectors and the challenge has become so great in recent years the department proposed a new, nearly complete ban on commercial elephant ivory trade earlier this year.

The new rule would ban all commercial ivory imports regardless of age. Non commercial sport-hunted trophies and bona fide scientific specimens would be allowed, as would some older examples contained in musical instruments, traveling exhibitions or as part of a household inheritance but everything else would be prohibited.

USFWS says the bold move is necessary in questions answered on its webpage.

"Given the unparalleled and escalating threats to African elephants, we believe that a nearly complete ban on commercial elephant ivory trade is the best way to ensure that U.S. domestic markets do not contribute to the decline of this species in the wild," the site says.

State bills restricting ivory sales have also been signed in New York and New Jersey but Wild Aid say they fear enforcement will still be an issue.

"You can have whatever rules you want but if you don't have the ability to enforce them nothing changes," said Peter Knights who travelled to Africa with Yao, "That's why we focus on demand."

Conservationists at Houston zoo also support their efforts, allocating hundreds of thousands of dollars from gate revenues each year to go towards elephant conservation projects.

They say regular people can make a difference by staying away from any ivory purchase, antique or not.

"If the demand doesn't stop, the battle will be lost," said Renee Bumpus, conservation program manager at the zoo, "We do not need to lose these amazing, magnificent beasts that help humans an awful lot."

Details and a trailer for Yao's film can be found here.