BEIJING – The greatest single step toward reducing elephant poaching will come into effect on Sunday when it will be illegal to buy or sell ivory in China. The country was once the world’s largest market for illicit ivory, and a major driver of rampant elephant poaching in Africa.

“We can start 2018 hopeful that elephants will be safer now that China has banned commercial ivory sales. Prices are down and law enforcement efforts in many parts of Africa and Asia are much improved,” said WildAid CEO Peter Knights.

“The UN has unanimously called for domestic ivory sales bans, and many other countries are responding with action. Japan alone remains unwilling to join the global community on this issue,” Knights said.

WildAid is now shifting it’s demand reduction campaign to educating Chinese consumers that ivory can no longer be bought or sold legally. Long-time WildAid ambassador and former NBA star Yao Ming is featured in a new video and billboard campaign releasing today across the country.

In 2012, Yao Ming and WildAid produced the first documentary on ivory poaching to air nationally on China Central Television, China’s state broadcast network also known as CCTV.

Additionally, with WildAid, African Wildlife Foundation and Save the Elephants, Yao Ming launched one of the largest ever public awareness campaigns. Chinese public and private media donated more than US$180 million in media space during 2013-2016. As a result, a 2017 WildAid survey showed a 70% increase in knowledge that ivory comes from poached elephants over the past five years.

In 2014, Yao Ming proposed to the National People’s Congress that ivory sales be banned in China. That same year, China carried outits first ever destruction of seized ivory, indicating a sea change in attitude from the government. After strong collaboration with the Obama Administration, President Xi announced the ban on December 30, 2016.

Many Chinese celebrities joined Yao Ming in the “Ivory Free” campaign, including Li Bingbing, Jay Chou, Lang Lang and Lin Chiling. International icons Prince William, David Beckham, Lupita Nyong’o, Maggie Q, Sir Richard Branson, Edward Norton, Ian Somerhalder, the cast of The Walking Dead and many others also participated in the campaign.

Dozens of messages featuring WildAid ambassadors were broadcast on more than 25 TV networks, outdoor video screens and movie theaters in China. Also, thousands of billboards were placed in over 20 Chinese cities.

IUCN estimates that the population of African elephants declined by 111,000 over the past ten years. The overall trends in the poaching of African elephants show a decline from the 2011 peak, but are still at levels too high when viewed continent-wide.The overall population of African elephants is likely to have declined in 2016.

While efforts in Eastern Africa have helped reduce poaching to pre-2008 levels, unfortunately illegal killing of Central Africa’s forest elephants remains very high. This compounds the dramatic losses experienced in the region over the past decade.Between 2008 and 2016, elephant populations declined by66% in parts of Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Gabon, according to a WWF survey.

China ivory ban timeline:

? Feb 26, 2015 - China announces 1 year ban on importing any post-CITES ban ivory carvings from African countries 

? Sep 26, 2015 - While visiting the US, President Xi Jinping announces China will begin phasing out domestic commercial ivory trade

? Oct 15, 2015 - China announces a 1 year ban on importing ivory from Africa obtained through hunting

? Mar 22, 2016 - China announces an extension on the ban of ivory imports to Dec 31, 2019

? Dec 31, 2016 - China announces that it will completely close its domestic commercial ivory market within 1 year

? Mar 31, 2017 - 67 legal commercial ivory carving factories and retail shops are closed

? Dec 31, 2017 - The remaining 105 legal commercial ivory carving factories and retail shops are closed

Other domestic ivory action: 

? The United States has already implemented its ivory sales ban. 

? In Hong Kong, lawmakers have just reviewed the government’s proposed plan to ban the city's ivory trade. A final vote in the city's Legislative Council is expected in early 2018.

? Singapore announced that it is considering a full domestic ivory ban. 

? Taiwan has undertaken a review of its regulations and is cracking down on illegal ivory sellers, and has announced a ban on domestic ivory sales starting in 2019.

? Thailand has enacted strong regulations to control the ivory trade over the past two years. Since the ivory act was introduced, 42% of all traders (91 in total) have filed voluntarily to revoke their licenses by mid-2017. Thailand has also seen a 58% decrease in sales of registered ivory items compared to mid-2016. No new purchases of ivory inventory have been reported by licensed ivory sellers in Bangkok in the past two years.

? Vietnam is also strengthening its laws and regulations on wildlife products, including ivory, with heavier fines and penalties, including imprisonment of up to 15 years for 90 kilograms or more of ivory. Since October 2016, law enforcement agencies have seized multiple shipments of ivory amounting to 12 tons.

About WildAid

WildAid is a non-profit organization with a mission to end the illegal wildlife trade in our lifetimes. While most wildlife conservation groups focus on protecting animals from poaching, WildAid primarily works to reduce global consumption of wildlife products such as shark fin and elephant ivory by persuading consumers and providing comprehensive marine enforcement. With an unrivaled portfolio of celebrity ambassadors - including Prince William and Yao Ming - and global network of media partners, WildAid leverages $289 million in annual pro bono media support with a simple message: When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too. For more information, visit WildAid.org.