China to phase out ivory market
As many as 22,000 elephants a year are killed to meet the demand for ivory.
China's domestic ivory market will be gradually phased out, the government has revealed. Wildlife charities have welcomed the move as a "positive signal".
According to the announcement, the Chinese authorities will "strictly control ivory processing and trade until the commercial processing and sale of ivory and its products are eventually halted."
WWF said it applauded the Chinese government's decision. “This decision will have a profound impact on wild elephant conservation and ivory trafficking," commented Lo Sze Ping, CEO of WWF China.
In recent years, poaching to meet the demand for ivory has resulted in the deaths of around 22,000 elephants a year.
China's recent announcement was made during the public destruction of 662kg of confiscated ivory seized since 2014. A previous destruction event was held in Guangdong, China in January 2014, where 6.5 tonnes of ivory were crushed.
“The decision to phase out China’s ivory market as well as today’s destruction of the confiscated ivory are powerful indications of the government’s commitment to support international action against elephant poaching and the illegal ivory trade,” commented Zhou Fei, head of TRAFFIC’s China office.
Ivory stockpiles have also been recently destroyed in a number of other nations and territories, including Belgium, France, Gabon, Hong Kong, Kenya, United Arab Emirates and the USA.
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