Ebay’s new policy to ban ivory sales will go into effect this December and will be enforced January 2009.  The idea is to help protect African and Asain elephants from poachers.  There are a few exceptions for some items with small amounts of ivory, or items must have been made before 1900.

The elephant population in Africa is becoming more scarce as time passes on.  The 2006 numbers show only 10,000 left.  That’s a substantial loss from the 1970 count of 400,000.

Ebay said they work with international and domestic law enforcement like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The Humane Society  and Humane Society International cheered the decision.   The Humane Society first brought the issue to eBay after an investigation in 2002 discovered thousands of ivory items for sale on the site. Teresa Telecky from the Humane Society said “EBay’s decision to wash its hands of the uncontrollable, bloody ivory trade is commendable and should set an example for others”.