UK named as world's largest legal ivory exporter

A new trade analysis reveals the scale of Britain's role in the international ivory trade

Britain was the world's largest exporter of legal ivory between 2010 and 2015, a breakdown of records held by the Convention on international trade in endangered species (Cites) has revealed.

Not only did the UK export more ivory than anyone else to Hong Kong and China - which are considered smuggling hubs for "blood ivory" - it also sold on 370% more ivory than the next highest exporter, the USA.