$15-million legal ivory sale to aid conservation

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.

The move has prompted protests from African nations with dwindling elephant populations as well as from animal welfare groups, who say increasing ivory supplies will stimulate demand, smuggling and poaching.