As of the 31st of December 2017, China closed its ivory market and banned ivory trading. This is a massive relief for conservationists and the 100,000 elephant that have been lost to poaching in the last decade.
Beijing is the world’s biggest centre for ivory and the ban will put pressure across the globe to ban any form of ivory trade. Currently the UK has a loophole which allows some trade and, along with US, France and Hong Kong, this lead by China will hopefully put a total ban on any form of ivory trade thus protecting these magnificent creatures.
It would be fantastic if this could now spread to increased protection for other endangered animals particularly rhino and the mountain gorillas.
