Hong Kong agreed to a domestic ivory ban but is allowing a four-year grace period before retailers and dealers must stop selling it. This delay encourages traders to stockpile as much ivory as possible to sell while it’s still legal, so they can make a killing in the name of legal offloading. This grace period could put elephants in more jeopardy than ever!
IVORY POACHING IS DRIVING ELEPHANTS TOWARD EXTINCTION
Wildlife criminals now have an incentive to ramp up elephant poaching in order to maximize profits before 2021. Tell Hong Kong the only way to make ivory valueless and save vulnerable species is to move ahead quickly with a full ban.
The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is the leading international conservation organization focused solely on Africa. We believe that protecting Africa’s wildlife and wild landscapes is the key to the future prosperity of Africa and its people – and for over 50 years, we have made it our work to help ensure that Africa’s wild resources endure.
