Yahoo Japan Corporation (hereinafter “Yahoo! JAPAN”) has thus far provided opportunities for legal ivory transaction in Japan in compliance with the Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. However, we have confirmed multiple reports in which ivories that were originally traded in Japan through YAHUOKU!, our online auction service, were smuggled abroad and detected by foreign customs authorities. Taking this matter seriously and after careful consideration based on the global situation over ivory trade as well as advice from environmental groups, Yahoo! JAPAN has decided to ban the transactions of all ivory products in its e-commerce services from November 1, 2019.
Comment by Mr. Ryuji Tsutsui, CEO of WWF Japan
WWF Japan and TRAFFIC have held ongoing discussions with Yahoo! Japan concerning ivory trade conducted on their platforms. The company’s decision to ban all ivory from its platforms takes full consideration of the elevated risks in continuing such a practice. We welcome this critical step taken by Yahoo! Japan to align themselves with the global efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade online.
<About WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)>
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations founded in 1961, and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
・WWF
<About TRAFFIC>
TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is a leading non-governmental organisation working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and ・sustainable development.
・TRAFFIC