China, the biggest ivory market in the world, will ban trade and processing of all domestic ivory by the end of 2017 in a bid to save the fast dwindling tusker population, a move hailed by activists as ‘historic’ and a ‘game changer’ for African elephants. The decision came after China had imposed a three-year ban on ivory imports in March this year, in an escalated fight against illegal trading of wild animals and plants.
“China will gradually stop the processing and sales of ivories for commercial purposes by the end of 2017,” state-run Xinhua news agency quoted a statement released by the Government. The move will impact China’s 34 processing enterprises and 143 designated trading venues, with dozens to be closed by the end of March 2017, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying.