The popular auction site eBay has finally put a complete stop to the sale of virtually all ivory products on their site. Conservationists have long been criticising the website for what they referred to as being the black market for selling ivory across the world. EBay retaliated by putting a limited ban on ivory items in 2007, but the environmentalists were still not happy.

Conservationists estimate that up to 20,000 elephants are still killed every year for their tusks regardless of the international trade ban on ivory products that was established in 1989. Conservationists say that eBay needs to take responsibility for the part that they have been playing in the sale of ivory as their site has been revealed to sell more than 63% of ivory products worldwide in a study over a seven week period.

The internet auction site has banned the sale of ivory as of the first of January, and covers all antique jewellery made before the worldwide trade ban was established. Only wood furniture with tiny inlays of ivory made before 1900 and old pianos with ivory keys will be allowed to be sold through eBay.

Tags: auction, ban, eBay, ivory, law, sale, site, web

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