China’s surprise announcement that it will phase out the trade and manufacturing of ivory came as a rare piece of good news for Africa’s rapidly shrinking elephant population. While most major international wildlife groups welcomed Beijing’s new policy direction, others said it’s too early to rejoice until a specific timeline is announced and what, if any, exceptions may be included in a new ivory law.
The U.S.-based International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is among the major conservation groups that is encouraged by Beijing’s apparent shift on the ivory issue. IFAW campaigner Peter Lafontaine joins Eric and Cobus to discuss the emerging Chinese ivory policy and why elephant campaigners may next turn their attention to the U.S.A., the world’s second largest market for illicit ivory.
Recommendations
- “In the Race to Save the Elephants Will the U.S. or China Step up First?,” Jamie Joseph, Saving the Wild, June 7, 2015
- “Why U.S. Rules Aren’t Stopping Illegal Ivory Trade at Home,” PBS Newshour, May 6, 2015