What does ivory have to do with elephants?
Elephant ivory trade has long been disputed because of the excessive manner in which it is carried out. For several years in some African nations trade was continued at high rates with no checks or regulations related to elephant poaching. As a result, a ban was placed on ivory trade and elephants were categorized as an endangered species by CITES. However, many years after the ban, elephant populations began to rise and some nations, specifically Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia, lobbied to have it removed so that they could continue with ivory trade. Consequently the ban was lifted and limited ivory trade has resumed, with sales to Japan only.
