On This Day

Ban on ivory trade in China comes into effect

The ivory trade is the commercial, often illegal trade in the ivory tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, black and white rhinos, mammoth, and most commonly, African and Asian elephants. Ivory...

The ivory trade is the commercial, often illegal trade in the ivory tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, black and white rhinos, mammoth, and most commonly, African and Asian elephants.

Ivory has been traded for hundreds of years by people in Africa and Asia, resulting in restrictions and bans. Ivory was formerly used to make piano keys and other decorative items because of the white color it presents when processed but the piano industry abandoned ivory as a key covering material in the 1980s in favor of other materials such as plastic. Also, synthetic ivory has been developed which can be used as an alternative material for making piano keys.

Historical Significance

The ivory trade is the commercial, often illegal trade in the ivory tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, black and white rhinos, mammoth, and most commonly, African and Asian elephants.

Events Before

  1. After floods along the Mississippi River kill 31 people, Exxon Mobil Corp decides to close a plant in flood-threatened M

    After floods along the Mississippi River kill 31 people, Exxon Mobil Corp decides to close a plant in flood-threatened Memphis

  2. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announces the recapture of drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, six months after hi

    Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announces the recapture of drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, six months after his escape from prison

  3. American singer-actress Katharine McPhee (31) divorces producer Nick Cokas (50) after 8 years of marriage

    American singer-actress Katharine McPhee (31) divorces producer Nick Cokas (50) after 8 years of marriage

  4. Pope Francis meets Patriarch Kirill in Havana in the first meeting between the heads of the Catholic and Russian Orthodo

    Pope Francis meets Patriarch Kirill in Havana in the first meeting between the heads of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches in nearly 1,000 years

  5. Barack Obama becomes the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a three-day tour with First Lady Mich

    Barack Obama becomes the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a three-day tour with First Lady Michelle

Events After

  1. An initiative of 300 Hollywood women called "Time's Up" announces a fight against sexual harassment

    An initiative of 300 Hollywood women called "Time's Up" announces a fight against sexual harassment

  2. Javier Bardem becomes the ambassador of Greenpeace for the protection of Antarctica

    Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem is a Spanish actor. In a career spanning over three decades, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Critics'…

  3. LeBron James becomes the seventh and youngest player (33 years, 24 days) to reach the 30,000 NBA point milestone during

    LeBron James becomes the seventh and youngest player (33 years, 24 days) to reach the 30,000 NBA point milestone during a 114-102 loss to the San Antonio Spurs

  4. Former US Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar is found guilty of molesting over 150 girls and is sentenced to up to 175 yea

    Former US Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar is found guilty of molesting over 150 girls and is sentenced to up to 175 years in prison

  5. Brazilian jockey Jorge Ricardo equals the world record for the number of victories by a jockey with 12,844 in Rio de Jan

    Brazilian jockey Jorge Ricardo equals the world record for the number of victories by a jockey with 12,844 in Rio de Janeiro

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 31, 2017?
The ivory trade is the commercial, often illegal trade in the ivory tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, black and white rhinos, mammoth, and most commonly, African and Asian elephants. Ivory has been traded for hundreds of years by people in Africa and Asia, resulting in restrictions and bans. Ivory was formerly used to make piano keys and other decorative items because of the white color it presents when processed but the piano industry abandoned ivory as a key covering material in the 1980s in favor of other materials such as plastic.
Why is Ban on ivory trade in China comes into effect significant?
The ivory trade is the commercial, often illegal trade in the ivory tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, black and white rhinos, mammoth, and most commonly, African and Asian elephants.

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