“The large-scale trade of ivory now faces its twilight years, and the future is brighter for wild elephants.”.
China said it would begin phasing out the ivory trade in March and cease processing and trading completely by Dec. 31, 2017.
“This is great news that will shut down the world’s largest market for elephant ivory,” said Aili Kang, Asia director at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
There was also a realization that China’s key role in the illicit ivory trade was damaging its image in Africa.
China retains a small stock of legal ivory purchased in 2008, when international trade in it was allowed.
The announcement follows a pledge by Xi and President Obama in September 2015 to end the domestic trade in ivory in their respective countries.
Yao Ming aims to save Africa's elephants by persuading China to give up ivory]. »