Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert pledged his continuing support to save elephants from slaughter for the illegal ivory trade when he attended an event at Westminster held by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) last month (18 July).

Mr Herbert committed the Conservatives to ban on the ivory trade when he was Shadow Environment Secretary in 2010. He has urged the Government to lead a global ban, and has remained committed to ‘choke not stoke’ the ivory market.

IFAW believes it is now more vital than ever that the British public stand up for elephants by helping to end consumer demand for ivory products and keep up the pressure for a domestic ban on the ivory trade.

A new poll revealed that the vast majority of the UK public said that they would not be interested in purchasing ivory products and would welcome a UK ban. 95 per cent of those questioned said they would not be interested in purchasing antique ivory – ivory which pre-dates 1947.

Philip Mansbridge, UK Director of IFAW, said: “We are very grateful for Nick Herbert’s support for our campaign. Time really is running out for elephants and if we do not act now it will be too late. Historically ivory has been seen by many as a status symbol and something to value, but the reality is that a piece of ivory represents a dead elephant, cruelly shot or poisoned for its tusks."

IFAW continues to call on the UK Government to ban ivory sales in the UK as a priority.

Mr Herbert said: “I continue to support a ban on the ivory trade. Poaching has had a devastating effect on elephant numbers which are now at an all-time low. It is a tragedy that poachers killed at least 20,000 elephants each year.

“As Shadow Environment Secretary I made the call for the UK to lead the world in banning stockpile sales, and future sales of ivory, through working with other countries."

Anyone wishing to donate ivory items is asked to post them to: Campaigns Department, International Fund for Animal Welfare, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7UD. For queries or large items, email info-uk@ifaw.org or call 020 7587 6700.

** UPDATE **

On 6 October the Environment Secretary Michael Gove, announced that the Government will ban the sale of ivory in the UK to help bring an end to the horrific poaching of elephants.

Around 20,000 elephants are being slaughtered every year due to the global demand for ivory, threatening elephants with extinction in some African countries. The Conservatives are leading the way on animal welfare by working to protect the world’s elephants and ending the deplorable trade in ivory once and for all.

ENDS

Notes

1. Photo: Nick Herbert at the IFAW event in Westminster.

2. The IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) was founded in 1969. IFAW saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats.

For more information, visit www.ifaw.org. Facebook www.facebook.com/IFAWHQ and Twitter www.twitter.com/action4ifaw.

3. To read Nick’s article from 2010, published in The Independent, ‘A unique chance to choke demand for ivory once and for all’ see https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/nick-herbert-a-unique-chance-to-choke-demand-for-ivory-once-and-for-all-1878826.html.

4. To read Nick’s article from 2010 ‘Nick Herbert calls for action against ivory trade’ see http://www.nickherbert.com/news.php/12/nick-herbert-calls-for-action-against-ivory-trade.

5. ** Update ** To read the announcement from Defra, 6 October 2017, see https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plans-for-ivory-ban

MP backs ivory ban to protect elephants