A new study published by environmental organizations Save the Elephants shows more substantial proof of the ever-growing illegal ivory trade in China.

On Tuesday, the organization published results of detailed research on the markets of Beijing and Shanghai since 2002, showing the skyrocketing demand for ivory in China, thus leading to the increased amount of elephants being slaughtered for its tusks in Africa.

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Elephants are killed in Africa every day as poachers harvest their tusks and profit by making and selling ivory in Asian nations, particularly in China. In fact, poachers killed more than 100,000 elephants from 2010 to 2012 alone.

"Every metric on the ivory trade has exploded upwards in recent years. The prices of raw and worked ivory in China, number of licensed carving factories, retail outlets both illegal and legal, items on sale, all have shot up," says the authors.

According to the study, the amount of factories and retail outlets involved in the ivory market within China have quadrupled within the two cities in the last 10 years, with a total of 40 in 2004 increasing to as many as 182 today.

Although there are legal retail outlets, the ivory trade is heavily dominated by illegal sales in the black market. Among the ivory trade in Beijing, 78 percent of outlets are illegal, with 89 percent illegally operating within Shanghai, the study says.

Furthermore, the price of raw elephant tusks has tripled in the last four years alone, which only entices more Chinese people to do business in the underground industry.

The Chinese government has been doing more to suppress the illegal trade of ivory as of late - they shut down 10 factories and retail outlets while arresting hundreds of dealers - but despite their efforts, it's clear that the country isn't doing enough to keep the illegal market from escalating.

China's most famous athlete Yao Ming recently called upon China's government to increase its efforts and put an end to the trade of ivory completely. "If China expressly forbids the trade of ivory, that would send a powerful message," Yao said. 

TagsIvory trade, African Elephants, Yao Ming, Poachers, Save the Elephants