Overwhelming majority of Australians back ivory and rhino horn trade ban

An overwhelming 95% of Australian voters want the federal government to deliver on its 2019 promise to ban the domestic trade in elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn. 

New YouGov polling, released this World Elephant Day, adds fresh momentum to calls from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Humane World for Animals Australia and Born Free Foundation for the Australian government to finally close Australia’s domestic ivory and rhino horn market. 

The government committed to doing so seven years ago after a federal parliamentary inquiry recommended stronger action to address Australia's domestic ivory and rhino horn trade. 

“An elephant never forgets, and neither should our government. Australians haven't forgotten this promise, and the polling shows they overwhelmingly want it delivered,” IFAW program officer Neree Pateman said. 

“In the seven years since Australia promised to close our domestic market, countries across the world have acted to close their markets. In that time, elephants and rhinos continued to face relentless pressure from poaching and trafficking. It's time for Australia to catch up and deliver on its commitment." 

The poll also found that almost all Australians (97%) think it is important for Australia to introduce the ban, including 59% who say it is extremely important, 25% who say it is very important and 13% who say it is slightly important. 

Public support for stronger protections is reflected in the fact that 95% of Australians surveyed believe or assume that buying and selling elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn within Australia is already illegal. 

"Australians have made their views unmistakably clear: seven years after the government committed to banning the domestic trade in elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn, voters overwhelmingly expect that promise to be delivered. The fact that 95% of Australians support fulfilling this commitment, and that most already assume this trade is illegal, shows just how out of step the current situation is with community expectations,” Humane World for Animals Australia executive director Erica Martin said. 

The organisations say the results highlight overwhelming public support for stronger protections for elephants and rhinos, whose survival remains under threat from poaching and wildlife trafficking fuelled by demand for ivory and rhino horn. 

“As the poll clearly shows, this is neither a complicated nor a controversial issue. An extensive consultation process has already delivered a very clear message: Australia must get its house in order, in line with local expectations as well as its international obligations, if it wants to avoid playing a role in the ongoing massacre of these iconic species. The time to act is long overdue,” Born Free Foundation senior policy advisor Gabriel Fava said. 

While a strict ban is in place for international commercial trade in elephant ivory and rhino horn, domestic markets provide loopholes that facilitate illegal trade. They provide opportunities for trafficked ivory to find a market, stimulate and legitimise demand for ivory and rhino horn, and encourage the illegal killing to continue, pushing the species closer to extinction.  

The polling was commissioned by all three organisations. 

ENDS 

Press contacts: 
IFAW: Dominica Mack, dmack@ifaw.org, 0460 432 901 
Humane World for Animals: Sam Edmonds, sedmonds@humaneworld.org, 0436 302 272 
Born Free Foundation: India Camm, press@bornfree.org.uk, +44 (0) 7342261917 

Notes: 

• All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1503 Australian voters. Fieldwork was undertaken between 14th July – 21st July 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures are representative of the voting population by age, gender, region, income, education, 2025 Federal Election vote and 2023 Voice Vote. 
• Online monitoring in 2025 found the domestic ivory and rhino horn market across Australia is ongoing. 
• Other countries which have implemented domestic bans and strict regulations include China, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Taiwan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the European Union, Singapore and Hong Kong. 

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) - IFAW is a global non-profit helping animals and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. See how at ifaw.org  

IFAW acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country and their connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. 

The Born Free Foundation is an international not-for-profit organisation which promotes compassionate conservation to enhance the survival of threatened species in the wild, protect natural habitats and safeguard the welfare of individual animals. It seeks to have a positive impact on animals in the wild and their ecosystems in perpetuity, for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world. www.bornfree.org.uk  

About Humane World for Animals - Together, we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, Humane World for Animals—formerly called Humane Society International—addresses the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Driving toward the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name: a more humane world. humaneworld.org