3 ms·

This has been going on for over a decade. And it's not just China. The ban on ivory is the driver.

• Cthulhu_ 7y ago
  The demand for ivory is the driver, the ban wouldn't be necessary if elephants weren't poached (and are being poached) to extinction.
  • mirimir 7y ago
    Yes, totally. But the driver for this is arguably the ban. From what I've heard, people weren't using much mammoth ivory before the ban. However, permafrost thawing due to climate change has certainly made it easier to dig up. It is sad, though, that the availability of mammoth ivory complicates enforcement of the ivory ban. Ideally, it could reduce demand for elephant etc ivory. I'm sure that C-14 dating would work, but it's still expensive.
    • tjr225 7y ago
      > But the driver for this is arguably the ban. I would argue that the driver is shortsighted humans who create demand for both ivory and mammoth tusks.
      • mirimir 7y ago
        What's shortsighted about using mammoth tusks? It's not like they contribute to climate change. Or that the mammoths are alive to need them. I mean, would you rather that they just rotted?