NAIROBI, Kenya — Finally, there’s some good news for elephants.

The price of ivory in China, the world’s biggest market for elephant tusks, has fallen sharply, which may spell a reprieve from the intense poaching of the past decade.

According to a report released Wednesday by Save the Elephants, a wildlife group based in Kenya, the price of ivory is less than half of what it was just three years ago, showing that demand is plummeting.

Tougher economic times and China’s apparent commitment to shut down its ivory trade this year were the drivers of the change, the group said.

“We must give credit to China for having done the right thing,’’ said Iain Douglas-Hamilton, president and founder of Save the Elephants. “There is still a long way to go to end the excessive killing of elephants for ivory, but there is now greater hope for the species.’’

Elephants have been slaughtered by the thousands in the quest for ivory. Employing a wide range of tools, including helicopters, military-grade weaponry, and poisoned pumpkins, poachers have brought down herd after herd. The poachers have also killed scores of wildlife rangers.

The tusks have been spirited out through a network of African gangs and corrupt government officials. Most ends up in China, where a growing middle class buys bracelets, combs, statuettes, and other status symbols.

According to Save the Elephants, the wholesale price of an elephant tusk was $2,100 a kilogram in 2014. Last month, it was $730.

New York Times