Other consequences

In addition to unintended consequences such as a potential rise in illegal trading, the ivory ban has brought hardship to some employees in the sector.

During its heyday, between the 1960s and '80s, the Beijing Ivory Carving Factory, one of the country's largest ivory processors, employed more than 800 people.

Now, the senior artisans have retired, and there are only 10 craftsmen left, all age 40 or younger. They have each spent a decade honing their skills.

Zhang Shulan, director of the sales department, said the company has not yet been informed whether the government will provide compensation for the business lost as a result of the ban.

She noted that the State Forestry Administration, which oversees the ivory trade, has encouraged craftsmen to work animal bones and other materials, but said their skills are not transferrable because of differences in carving techniques.

The company had planned to open an ivory museum and encourage its master carvers to pass on their skills by working on pieces designed for exhibitions, not sale.

However, the ban, which covers all forms of ivory processing, meant the project had to be abandoned, along with a planned purchase of mammoth tusks for the young carvers to work on.

"The price of mammoth tusks has soared dramatically in recent months as a result of the ivory ban. This is the hardest time for the ivory sector, and we are all waiting for supportive solutions from the government," Zhang said.

Contact the writers at yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn