historic: China, United States agree to protect elephants with domestic ivory bans

Today, in a White House statement the United States and China made an historic commitment to protect elephants from ivory trade by enacting strong domestic trade controls – once in effect, the commitments will represent near total ivory trade bans. Despite this welcome and truly encouraging news, the elephant conservation community will have to stay engaged to ensure that governments follow through and effectively shut down ivory markets--including imports of elephant hunting trophies.

I am grateful to IFAW’s international leaders on this campaign and to our supporters and likeminded organizations all of whom contributed to this historic announcement.