US Major Ivory Importer

Two major wildlife conservation groups have determined that the United States is one of the major countries involved in the illegal importing of ivory. Officials visited shops in 15 cities and found over 23,000 pieces of ivory for sale. Both groups also noted that online auction site, eBay, has become a major conduit for the trade and sale of ivory.

Importing ivory into the US is a crime and US officials admitted there probably wasn't enough local enforcement. But they also said that if ivory is being sold in states where it is not illegal, then they do not have the authority to do anything. eBay has said it will prevent further international ivory trading on its site.

Ivory trade has halved the elephant population in Africa in under a decade. Importing ivory into America was decreed illegal in 1989.

© C Harris Lynn, 2007-08