The world’s legal ivory markets must be closed, not regulated, according to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In a report released today, WWF and other conservation groups called for an immediate end to trade of all elephant ivory, including that from poached elephants killed by poachers. “There is no legal market that doesn’t contribute to the illegal trade,” said Susan Lieberman, at the Wildlife Conservation Society. Although it is illegal to trade new ivory, many countries still permit the sale and purchase of antique items. China, which has the largest domestic market in the world, has pledged to close its own markets but has yet to set a deadline for the move.
The world’s legal ivory markets must be closed, not regulated, according to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In a report released today, WWF and other conservation groups called for an immediate end to trade of all elephant ivory, including that from poached elephants killed by poachers. Although it is illegal to trade new ivory, many countries still permit the sale and purchase of antique items. China, which has the largest domestic market in the world, has pledged to close its own markets but has yet to set a deadline for the move.