The Government’s Ivory Bill continued its progress through Parliament last night, putting in place one of the toughest ivory bans in the world. The ban will cover ivory items of all ages – not just those which were produced after a certain date. This is because the legal ivory trade often provides a smokescreen for the illegal killing of elephants.

This ban makes the UK a global leader in tackling this horrific trade. Around 55 African elephants are killed for their ivory a day, their tusks turned into carvings and trinkets.

Rebecca speaking on the ban said, “There is clearly huge public momentum in the UK for an ivory ban with over 70 000 responses to the Government consultation.

“With elephant populations at an all-time low and the species facing extinction due to the ivory poaching crisis which is killing at least 20,000 elephants each year, I am pleased that this Government is introducing one of the world’s toughest bans on ivory sales. This will protect elephants for future generations, looking after our planet and protecting animal rights. Ivory should never be seen as a commodity for financial gain, and this will reaffirm the UK’s global leadership on this critical issue.

“Time is running out for elephants and we must act now before it is too late. Each piece of ivory that is sold represents a dead elephant, shot or poisoned for its tusks. The end of the ivory trade in the UK removes any hiding place for the trade in illegal ivory, and sends a powerful message to the world that ivory will no longer be seen as something that can be bought and sold.”