Chinese Trading Ban Sees Huge Decrease in Endangered Species Auction Sales

ARREST Program partner IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) was given credit in a Chinese newspaper for influencing the Chinese government to issue a ban removing tiger bone, rhino horn and elephant ivory from art auctions. The ban had an immediate impact and many endangered species auctions were cancelled. In March, the auction industry annual sales figures were released for 2012, showing a 30-40% reduction in sales volume for auctions from a year ago. The drastic decrease is attributed to ivory, rhino horn and tiger bone being banned, as these are often high-ticket items. IFAW obtained the evidence presented through their constant monitoring of illegal online wildlife trading. IFAW also works closely with government agencies in China to encourage the authorities to maintain constant pressure on those trading wildlife illegally. IFAW has plans to coordinate and large campaign with China’s State Forestry Police in the near future.