Poaching for ivory has led to the decline of the African elephant population from 2 million to approximately 600,000, with the species virtually extinct in some countries. Trade in ivory was halted by Kenya in 1989, but Zimbabwe continued its policy of controlled culling to enable the elephant population to thrive and to release ivory for export. China and Hong Kong have refused to obey an international ban on ivory trading. These three countries would be allowed to sell a limited amount of ivory to Japan, and the money must be channelled into elephant conservation projects. Trade is scheduled to resume in 1999 and would only be allowed from the existing stockpiles of ivory.
Vegetable ivory is used for buttons, toys, and cheap ivory goods.