15．The illegal ivory trade （象牙貿易） has been a major problem in Africa for decades．Poachers （偷獵者） and hunters have killed hundreds of thousands of elephants to obtain this precious material．Now the areas in which they do it are taking action．The International Union for Conservation （保護） of Nature （IUCN）announced on Dec 3that key states （29）where poaching takes place have made a promise to stop the ivory trade and protect Africa's elephants．
Recently，top officials and experts from 30states met to discuss how to protect Africa elephants．The conference，（30）organized （organize） by the IUCN and the government of Botswana，was held in Gaborone，Botswana's capital city．
In （31）the1980s，as many as 1million elephants across Africa were killed for ivory．The ivory （32）was used （use） to make jewelry and other items．This continued until 1989，（33）when the convention （大會） on International Trade in Species voted to ban all trade in ivory．Then，elephants'population slowly began to increase．
According to the IUCN，2011saw the highest levels of poaching and illegal ivory trading in at least 16years．Around 25，000elephants were killed in Africa that year．"With an estimated 22，000elephants illegally （34）killed （kill） in 2012，we continue to face a critical situation，"said John E．Scanlon，CITES Secretary-General．
At the meeting，key Africa states where elephants make （35）their home agreed to develop a"zero-tolerance approach"to poaching．The deal calls for tough sentences for poachers and hunters，and increased cooperation between states where poaching and hunting is a big problem．All participants at the conference agreed to sign the deal．With these states （36）coming （come） together，there may be hope for elephants．
