A recent study by Adelaide University has revealed that more than $1 million worth of elephant ivory was advertised for sale online in Australia between January and June 2025. The research, published in the journal Biological Conservation, uncovered an active collectors' market for ivory, with most listings providing no proof that the items were legally obtained. While Australia strictly controls ivory at its borders, with severe penalties for illegal importation, the country remains one of the last high-income nations without a domestic ban on ivory trade. Dr. Damien Huffer, lead author of the study from Adelaide University's Wildlife Crime Research Hub, explained that once ivory enters Australia, the responsibility of regulating its sale shifts to the states and territories. However, no Australian jurisdiction currently requires sellers to prove the material, age, or legal origin of ivory items at the time of sale. This lack of oversight makes it extremely difficult to trace whether the ivory was imported legally or obtained through illegal poaching. The researchers monitored online platforms, including auction houses, dealer websites, and Facebook Marketplace, and found 1,698 ivory listings from 70 vendors. These items had a total value of $653,101 from completed sales and $573,997 in asking prices. The market was dominated by small carved items like netsuke (small Japanese carvings), figurines, and jewelry, with the majority of listings concentrated in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Only a small fraction of listings included documentation, and even fewer provided details about the item's origin or history. Dr. Freyja Watters, a co-author of the study, noted that without a legal framework for domestic trade, buyers have no reliable way to verify the legitimacy of ivory items. Since sellers are not required to provide import evidence, poached ivory is indistinguishable from genuine antiques. While many countries, including the United States, China, and the European Union, have closed their domestic ivory markets, Australia has not followed suit. A parliamentary inquiry in 2018 recommended a national ban, but the issue was closed in 2024 without further action. Watters and her colleagues argue that a nationally coordinated ivory ban is still the most effective solution. In the meantime, they suggest measures such as monitoring high-volume vendors, raising public awareness, and requiring sellers to disclose details about the items they sell. They emphasized that international bans alone cannot stop poaching if illegally obtained ivory can still be sold within a country that lacks strict domestic regulations. Until Australia implements such measures, the trade in ivory remains a challenge for conservation efforts.