Ivory trade ban wins applause

Wildlife campaigners decry failure of other countries to follow suit

NAIROBI, Kenya - The historic decision by China to terminate commercial processing and sale of ivory will usher a new era for the protection of Africa's elephants and other iconic species, campaigners and officials have said.

China's State Forestry Administration announced the closure of the domestic ivory market on Dec 31, in line with a pledge made by Beijing at the end of 2016 to strengthen its role in the protection of Africa's giant mammals.