Georgina Rannard - Climate and science reporter, BBC News
Mon, May 22, 2023
Hippo
The sale of ivory from the tusks and teeth of five more species will be banned under government plans.
The import, export and dealing of elephant ivory was banned in the UK last year. The animals that could join the list are killer whales, hippos, walruses, narwhals, and sperm whales.
The creatures are hunted and killed for their ivory which is often used in decorative carvings.
The government plans to extend the Ivory Act 2018 to include them.
People found to be breaking the law can be given unlimited fines or be jailed for five years.
Parliament must vote on the extension of the Act before it can come into force.
The species set to be included in the ban are already at risk from climate change and habitat loss, and conservationists are concerned that poaching for ivory will drive them closer to extinction.
"The Ivory Act is one of the toughest bans of its kind in the world and by extending greater legal protections to five more species, we are sending a clear message the commercial trade of ivory is totally unacceptable," said Biodiversity Minister Trudy Harrison.
Hippos, killer whales and sperm whales are targeted for their teeth, while narwhals and walruses are hunted for their tusks.
An investigation in 2022 by conservation charity Born Free found 621 individual online ivory listings in the UK, with a total guide price of over £1.2m.
This was a significant decrease in the volume traded before restrictions were introduced, the charity said.
But last year wildlife campaigners also warned that the ban on elephant ivory trafficking had led to an increase in trade of hippo teeth.
In 2020 hippo teeth were among the mammal body parts most often seized in the EU, according to a European Commission report.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare welcomed the government's proposal.
"We welcome the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs's decision to extend this powerful legislation, which will go a long way in cracking down on a damaging trade. Today is a good day for conservation and a step change towards international commitments to safeguard our natural world," said Frances Goodrum, Head of Campaigns and Programmes at IFAW UK.
The five species are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates their trade internationally.
Hippopotamus, walrus and sperm whale are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.
PA Environment Correspondent
Mon, May 22, 2023
It will soon be illegal to trade ivory from a hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, killer whale and sperm whale, the Government has said.
The Ivory Act 2018 is to be extended to cover these five species after it came into force last June to protect elephants.
Hippopotamus is the species most at risk of ivory exploitation after elephants, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.
Along with walrus and sperm whale, it is classed as vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s red list.
All three animals already face multiple threats from human activity including from pollution, shipping lanes, armed conflict and climate change, with the ivory trade adding extra pressure, Defra said.
Naturalist and TV presenter Steve Backshall said: “This is an important moment in the conservation of these iconic species.
“There is widespread public support for the ivory ban and today by extending it further we are sending a clear message that there is no place in the UK for this vile trade.”
Punishment for breaching the Ivory Act is an unlimited fine or up to five years in jail.
A spokesperson from Defra said the new extension will take effect “in due course” depending on the availability of parliamentary time.
Biodiversity minister Trudy Harrison said: “This is a pivotal moment in delivering one of our key manifesto commitments on international conservation.
“The Ivory Act is one of the toughest bans of its kind in the world and by extending greater legal protections to five more species, we are sending a clear message the commercial trade of ivory is totally unacceptable.
“The UK has long led the way in conservation and our ban shows continued global leadership in doing all we can to protect the world’s most endangered species.”
The decision comes after an “extensive public consultation” in the approach to the anniversary of the Act on June 6 last year.
Since then, Defra has issued over 6,500 registrations and certificates for exempted items which it said was necessary to protect the UK’s artistic and cultural heritage.
Frances Goodrum, head of campaigns and programmes at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) charity, said: “As we approach the one-year anniversary of the UK Ivory Act coming into force, IFAW UK are encouraged by early indications that the ban is having a significant impact on the trade in elephant ivory.
“Yet other species are still poached globally to meet an unnecessary demand for luxury ivory products, including the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, sperm whale and killer whale.
“We welcome Defra’s decision to extend this powerful legislation, which will go a long way in cracking down on a damaging trade.
“Today is a good day for conservation and a step change towards international commitments to safeguard our natural world.”
Mon, May 22, 2023
It will soon be illegal to trade ivory from a hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, killer whale and sperm whale, the Government has said.
The Ivory Act 2018 is to be extended to cover these five species after it came into force last June to protect elephants.
Hippopotamus is the species most at risk of ivory exploitation after elephants, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.
Along with walrus and sperm whale, it is classed as vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s red list.
All three animals already face multiple threats from human activity including from pollution, shipping lanes, armed conflict and climate change, with the ivory trade adding extra pressure, Defra said.
Naturalist and TV presenter Steve Backshall said: “This is an important moment in the conservation of these iconic species.
“There is widespread public support for the ivory ban and today by extending it further we are sending a clear message that there is no place in the UK for this vile trade.”
Punishment for breaching the Ivory Act is an unlimited fine or up to five years in jail.
A spokesperson from Defra said the new extension will take effect “in due course” depending on the availability of parliamentary time.
Biodiversity minister Trudy Harrison said: “This is a pivotal moment in delivering one of our key manifesto commitments on international conservation.
“The Ivory Act is one of the toughest bans of its kind in the world and by extending greater legal protections to five more species, we are sending a clear message the commercial trade of ivory is totally unacceptable.
“The UK has long led the way in conservation and our ban shows continued global leadership in doing all we can to protect the world’s most endangered species.”
The decision comes after an “extensive public consultation” in the approach to the anniversary of the Act on June 6 last year.
Since then, Defra has issued over 6,500 registrations and certificates for exempted items which it said was necessary to protect the UK’s artistic and cultural heritage.
Frances Goodrum, head of campaigns and programmes at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) charity, said: “As we approach the one-year anniversary of the UK Ivory Act coming into force, IFAW UK are encouraged by early indications that the ban is having a significant impact on the trade in elephant ivory.
“Yet other species are still poached globally to meet an unnecessary demand for luxury ivory products, including the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, sperm whale and killer whale.
“We welcome Defra’s decision to extend this powerful legislation, which will go a long way in cracking down on a damaging trade.
“Today is a good day for conservation and a step change towards international commitments to safeguard our natural world.”
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