Four African nations sold more than 100 tons of tusks to Chinese and Japanese traders for nearly $15 million in the world's first legal ivory auctions in nearly a decade. The money raised during the week of sales will be used for elephant conservation.
The auctions took place after South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe were granted a one-time exemption from the 1989 global ban on trade in new ivory because of their thriving elephant herds.
