Only a complete ban on sales of ivory will do
SIR – Watering down the proposed ban on UK ivory sales with a licensing system, as proposed by antique dealers (Arts, December 19), will allow loopholes for illegal sales to continue and dilute the impact on poaching.
Each year 20,000 elephants are killed. Banning the ivory trade is supported by 85 per cent of the public. To dismiss overwhelming public demand as the view of “extremist wildlife protectionists” misrepresents the true position.
We are not calling for ivory items to be destroyed or for a ban on owning ivory. We are calling for an end to selling and buying. Britain is the largest exporter of legal ivory. This is an embarrassing indictment.
Trade fuels demand. It is only when the demand stops that the killing will stop. Elephants are running out of time.
We support the Government’s efforts to ban the trade.
John Stephenson
CEO, Stop Ivory
London SE1
SIR – Ivory expertise is not only to be found in the largest London salerooms and dealers in Asian art.
From Exeter to Edinburgh, specialist regional fine art auctioneers are highly experienced and vigilant over accepting post1946 ivory articles. They do not offer such objects for sale.
But the 1947 cut-off date for “worked ivory” should be put back by 100 or 150 years, and common sense dictates there must also be a de minimis rule. That ought to satisfy all but those of the most entrenched opinion, from both sides.
Nigel Kirk
Nottingham