While a number of governments have issued bans on ivory trade, sales are still allowed in some markets. What measures are there, and what is the future of the ivory trade following the ban? Our reporter Ming Tian takes a look.

It is the trade built on the death of natural heritage. Tons of ivory products are made from the tusks of African elephants killed across the continent, shipping to Asia, America, and Europe.

According to Kenya-based rights group Save the Elephants, at least 33,000 elephants are killed for their tusks each year.

The poaching has become rampant in recent years. Experts say it is difficult to give a precise number on how large the illegal trade is.

ZHOU FEI HEAD OF TRAFFIC CHINA PROGRAM "In terms of illegal trade, in 2016, the seizure of illegal ivory was around 40 tons. Experts estimate this represents about 10 to 20 percent of the entire illegal trade. This might give you a picture of the whole illegal trade."

As one of the largest markets, China has put a halt to the trade. All ivory trade and processing activities were stopped by 2017. This and earlier measures to crack down have led to price declines in the country, (GRAPHIX IN) from a peak of 2,100 US dollars per kilogram in 2013 to 730 US dollars per kilogram earlier this year.

Yet the crisis is too big for any one organization or government to resolve. Other major markets have issued bans or are considering doing so.  

ZHOU FEI HEAD OF TRAFFIC CHINA PROGRAM "In the United States, the government already pose some regulation on ivory trade. The regulation is to ban the illegal trade between states. But there are still many states that allow ivory trade within their states. In the United Kingdom, the government is now conducting public consultancy on ivory trade. There is a very large support for the ivory ban." 

While the will seems unanimous, there are still loopholes when enforcing the law. According to Zhou, much trade has moved onto social media, making sales more difficult to crack down on. What's more, law enforcement capabilities lag in many African and Asian countries, compromising the efforts of ivory product bans.

But the biggest hurdle, lies within consumers.

ZHOU FEI HEAD OF TRAFFIC CHINA PROGRAM "This market demand continues. Chinese travelers who traveling overseas are most likely those people who shall continue to purchase ivory items after the ban. On the other hand, millennial are most likely to purchase ivory within China." 

Zhou said it is time to send a message to determined buyers.

ZHOU FEI HEAD OF TRAFFIC CHINA PROGRAM "Ivory should be rebranded as socially unacceptable, uncool, unfashionable. This is the way to change consumer behavior."  MING TIAN, CGTN, BEIJING.