International online auction site eBay will institute a global ban on all ivory products that will take effect at the beginning of next year.
"Global demand for ivory has long been a significant factor in the poaching of African and Asian elephants, driving these species towards extinction - to such a degree that both types of elephants are now considered endangered or protected species," said the company in its official blog yesterday.
The announcement came just hours before the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) released a report on the global Internet trade in wildlife products.
The report, titled "Killing with Keystrokes", shows that eBay is the largest contributor, responsible for almost two-thirds of the online trade in wildlife products worldwide.
Big business
According to the study, elephant ivory made up 73% of all online product listings tracked. Exotic birds were second, accounting for nearly 20% of the listings tracked, but primates, big cats and other animals have also fallen victim to e-trade.
The IFAW says that over 4 000 elephant ivory listings were uncovered during the investigation, with most of the sales taking place on eBay`s US site. "In one instance, a user purchased a pair of elephant tusks off eBay for more than $21 000."
IFAW campaigns manager Barbara Cartwright says: "We congratulate eBay on this very important step to protect elephants. eBay has set the standard for protecting elephants; now governments and other online dealers need to follow their example."
Statistics show that every year, more than 20 000 elephants are illegally hunted in Africa and Asia to meet demand for ivory products. The World Conservation Union estimated in 1998 that there were as few as 300 000 African elephants and between 35 000 and 50 000 Asian elephants remaining.
Under-regulated
The company previously instituted a cross-boarder policy around the sale of ivory products in 2007. However, the report released by IFAW shows that less than a year after the ban was instituted, eBay`s customers still constituted nearly 83% of the ivory trade, with 6% of that crossing borders.
eBay said in its blog yesterday that it "recognises the distinct responsibilities that come along with the unique attributes of our global marketplace". It said that, while the initial ban was intended to balance out the trade of ivory, the problem persisted.
"However, given the complexities of the global ivory trade, and the distinct and unique characteristics of the eBay marketplace, the sale of any ivory on our site continued to be a concern within the company and among stakeholders."
The new global ban on the trade of any ivory item is expected to help curb the problem on the auction site.
The blog goes on to explain that certain antique items, which contain small amounts of ivory, will still be allowed; however, antique items must have been made prior to 1900. Items containing a significant amount of ivory, regardless of the age, such as chess sets, ivory broaches and ivory jewellery, are not permitted under the new policy.
Local conservation authorities could not be reached at the time of publication.
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