Ivory trade statistics: 34,000kg seized in 2012
- Around 34,000kg of ivory was seized worldwide in 2012
- That's up from 2009, when over 20,000kg of ivory was seized
- An estimated 25,000 elephants were killed for their ivory in 2011
- Just thirteen of the largest ivory seizures in 2011 amounted to over 23,000kg
This information was taken from the Kenya Wildlife Service, National Geographic, International Fund for Animal Welfare and the campaign group Bloody Ivory.
Statistics released by the South African Government also show that 668 rhinos were killed across the country last year - a record number.
Five rhinos have already been killed since the beginning of 2013, the WWF added.
The dirty business of the lucrative ivory trade
Illegal poaching in Africa is being fuelled by a growing demand for ivory from wealthy consumers in China, and across Asia.
Kenya asks for help to curb elephant poaching menace
The poachers who slaughtered 12 elephants at the weekend were likely big-time gangsters fuelled by consumer demand in the Far East.
Kenya's elephants slaughtered in new poaching frenzy
A family of 12 elephants has been killed and their tusks hacked off in the worst recorded incident of ivory poaching in Kenya's history.