Following a e-petition gaining over 103,000 signatures, Local MP Luke Hall will be leading a debate in parliament, on the closure of domestic ivory markets in the UK.
In August 2016, the Elephant Census reported that the current rate of decline is 8 per cent per year, primarily due to poaching. Consequently, in September 2016, the Government announced a ban on the sale of ‘worked’ ivory produced after 1947.
However, many people feel that these provisions are not enough: current legislation allows the retail of pre 1947 ivory in the UK. This has raised concerns that the UK’s legal trade is providing a cover for illegal activity. Therefore, Luke Hall shall be challenging the Government to close the current domestic market and abolish all retail sales of ivory.
Luke Hall met with representatives from the Environmental Investigation Agency, Zoological Society of London and TUSK, who in a joint statement said; “We continue to emphasise how much of an important issue this is. In the last decade there has been a massive decline in elephant population in Africa, due to poaching to support illegal markets in places like China. It is vital that the UK retains its position as Global Leader in tackling the illegal wildlife trade, globally and nationally.”
In a statement on the Government e-petitions page, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated that: “The Government will consult on the ban early in 2017, as a first step in meeting the manifesto commitment. This will complement our existing approach of not permitting sales of raw ivory tusks of any age” Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Luke Hall stated that: “It is absolutely devastating to witness the impact that poaching has on the Elephant community. I am proud to support such an important cause in this debate.”