By Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The ornate ivory statues and carvings sold in Scott Defrin's New York gallery date from the 17th and 18th centuries, but the antique dealer's business is being upended by a 21st century fight over saving the African elephant. Despite a 25-year-old international ban on most international elephant ivory trade, poachers are illegally slaughtering elephants by the thousands for their tusks and wildlife advocates blame the remaining ivory trade. The state of New York has adopted a near total ban and the Obama administration is tightening federal rules.
Push to save African elephants stirs U.S. clash over antique ivory trade
