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. "To better protect elephants and better tackle the illegal trade... China will gradually stop the processing and sale of ivory for commercial purposes" by the end of 2017, the State Council, China's cabinet, said in a statement late Friday.
China's State Council announces details of its intention to ban all ivory trade and processing activities by the end of 2017.