Chinese demand for elephant ivory drops, new report says
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A leading elephant conservation group says the price of ivory in China has dropped as the country moves toward a ban on the legal trade of ivory this year.
Experts say Chinese demand for tusks has been driving elephants toward extinction.
A report launched Wednesday surveyed the price of ivory in markets across China over the last three years and found prices had dropped from $2,100 per kilogram in early 2014 to $730 in February.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Save the Elephants says factors behind the drop in the price of ivory include an economic slowdown in China resulting in fewer people being able to afford luxury goods, and a crackdown on corruption dissuading business people from buying expensive ivory items as "favors" for government officials.