World applauds China ivory ban, but illegal trade may rise

Beijing: China’s ban on the sale and processing of ivory, which came into force on Dec 31, has already begun to have an effect on businesses in the sector.

At the end of last year, the Guangzhou Daxin Ivory Carving Factory in Guangdong province employed 30 ivory carvers, but 18 were made redundant earlier this month, leaving just 12 full-time employees.

The factory is one of about 150 ivory processing and retailing facilities in the Chinese mainland that were ordered to cease operations by the end of last year.

The international community has hailed the ban as a move that could help to eradicate poaching and reverse the decline in the number of African elephants in the wild.

The tusks of African elephants are longer and more workable than those of their Asian counterparts, and therefore more valuable.

However, despite the ban, problems and challenges still exist.

Weng Zhanxuan, a sixth-generation ivory carver in Guangzhou, is one of the few remaining employees at the Guangzhou Daxin Ivory Carving Factory, but he is no longer allowed to use his skills.

Wengs family has been making ivory balls for about 200 years.

The balls, which feature several rotatable internal layers, are carved from a single piece of ivory. Weng’s father and grandfather are revered as national arts and crafts masters.

The family regards the ivory ban as a personal death sentence.

“For a long time, my family has earned a humble living by carving ivory balls. We strongly believe in passing on our skills, but now we can only see the end of the line,” Weng said.