Dozens of Laotian elephants 'illegally sold to Chinese zoos'

Laos accused of breaching Cites treaty to protect endangered species and China of encouraging trade in live animals

Dozens of elephants from Laos are being illegally bought by China to be displayed in zoos and safari parks across the country, according to wildlife investigator and film-maker Karl Ammann.

According to Ammann, so-called captive elephants in Laos sell for about 23,000 before being walked across the border into China by handlers or "mahouts" near the border town of Boten. Thereafter they are transported to receiving facilities, which buy them from the agents for up to 230,000 per animal. "That is a nice mark-up," says Ammann, "and makes it exactly the kind of commercial transaction which under Cites rules is not acceptable."