05 January, 2018
China has made the sale of ivory in the country illegal.
Conservationists have welcomed the decision. They say any legal ivory trade in the world hurts efforts to stop the killing of elephants.
Max Graham is the Chief Executive of the group Space For Giants which works to protect elephants. He said, "There's a new conservation superpower in the world that is taking its responsibilities seriously."
He said that the ban on the ivory trade will support a larger struggle against all kinds of illegal trade in wildlife. The traditional use of wildlife parts in Asia, and especially in China, he said, has been responsible for the loss of "rare species around the world."
China announced the ban at the end of 2016. The measure went into effect in December 2017. Conservationists are pleased about China's decision, but they worry about its enforcement.
Frank Pope is the chief of another environmental group, Save the Elephants. He believes the ban could greatly improve the future for elephants. But there is one problem, he says.
"You're going to see secondary markets," he notes. Pope adds that these markets are "...in Vietnam, in Laos, in Myanmar and in Hong Kong. All of these places have markets that have boomed" when China announced its ban.
Philip Muruthi is an official with the African Wildlife foundation. He also welcomes the ban but notes the importance of keeping new markets from growing.
"About 35,000 elephants...are lost each year. There are 415,000 on this continent (Africa). That means that in 20 years...we will not have any elephants," he said.
He added that the loss of the elephant population would destroy Africa's wildlife tourism and the jobs that it creates in countries like Kenya and South Africa.
"It's about the African peoples' well-being. It's about our heritage," he said.
Conservationists say that stopping the illegal killing of elephants for their ivory tusks is important, but so is managing their living areas. They urge African governments to do more to reduce threats to wildlife.
I'm Susan Shand.
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Words in This Story
ivory – n. a hard white substance that forms the tusks of elephants and other animals with tusks
conservationist –n. a person who works to protect animals, plants and natural resources to prevent their loss
species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants
tourism –n. the industry of providing hotels, restaurants and entertainment for people who travel for pleasure
heritage –n. the traditions, history, art and knowledge of a group or nation
tusk – n. a very long, large tooth that sticks out of the mouth of an animal such as an elephant