MIAMI - In a bid to stop the killing of elephants for their tusks, world governments voted at a major conservation conference to urge the closure of all domestic ivory markets. After fierce debate, including opposition from Namibia and Japan, a motion was adopted at the IUCN World Conservation Congress to urge closure of all domestic ivory markets. Experts say that domestic ivory markets help fuel poaching by allowing traffickers a cover for their illegal imports and exports. The United States and China, among the biggest consumers of ivory, have already agreed to enact near-total bans on their domestic markets. "The shutting down of domestic ivory markets will send a clear signal to traffickers and organized criminal syndicates that ivory is worthless and will no longer support their criminal activities causing security problems in local communities and wiping out wildlife."

Source: Bangkok Post September 11, 2016 03:00 UTC