In a recent report on the online trade of ivory in Japan, environmental conservation group Traffic concluded that operators of e-commerce websites are not doing enough to crack down on illegal sales of items made from elephant tusks, urging the government to strengthen restrictions.
While praising the autonomous measures taken by online retailers, the group recommended that operators consider banning ivory trade completely.
"As a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) party, Japan has an obligation to fulfill these requirements effectively to ensure that domestic trade in ivory does not contribute to poaching or to illegal trade," it said in the report published Tuesday.