China - The World's Largest Ivory Market - Bans All Ivory Trading And Processing

December 31, 2016

China has won a huge battle in the war against elephants.

On Friday, China's State Council announced a ban on all ivory trading and processing activities.

China bans ivory trade
Credit: Wildlife Aid

China is currently the biggest ivory market in the world - about 70% of the world's trade ends up there.

Conservation group WWF welcomed the latest news, calling it a "historic announcement... signalling an end to the world's primary legal ivory market and a major boost to international efforts to tackle the elephant poaching crisis in Africa".

The commercial processing and sale of ivory will stop by March 31, and all registered traders will then be phased out, bringing a full halt to the market by the end of 2017.

Source