Ivory ban will extend to the hippopotamus and walrus

A PROPOSED ban on ivory products could extend to hippos because poachers were targeting animals other than elephants, Michael Gove said yesterday.

Ministers have proposed tough legislation to ban the sale of ivory items of all ages, with only a few “narrowly defined” exemptions, as part of efforts to protect elephants from poaching.

Around 20,000 elephants a year are being killed for their ivory and wildlife campaigners believe reducing global demand for their tusks is an important part of ending the carnage.

But concerns have been raised that other animals such as hippopotamuses, walruses and narwhals are at risk of poaching for their ivory. There has been an increase in trade in hippo and other non-elephant ivory in the UK because of the focus on elephants in the ban.

Mr Gove, the Environment Secretary, said: “Our ivory ban is one of the toughest in the world and will provide vital protection for the African and Asian elephant from the scourge of illegal poaching. But there are many more precious species, like the hippo and walrus, which could fall victim to the callous trade in ivory.

“The Government will therefore consult on extending the ivory ban to other ivory-bearing animals. We are determined to end this insidious trade and make sure ivory from any animal is never seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbol.”

Both Labour and Owen Paterson, the Conservative former environment secretary, have called for the Ivory Bill currently going through Parliament to protect other ivory-bearing species, with hippos of particular concern.

The Government has responded to the concerns by announcing it will consult on extending the scope of the Bill to protect other ivory-bearing species, which also include sperm whales and killer whales.

Hippos are listed as “vulnerable” to extinction on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, with their population thought to have declined around 12 per cent in the past decade.

The consultation would begin as soon as practicable after the Bill has become law and would not delay the introduction of the ban on dealings in elephant ivory, ministers said.

The Bill went on to receive its third reading unopposed and has now been sent to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.

Sir David Amess, the Tory MP who has campaigned against the ivory trade, welcomed the move and said: “This is a day of celebration for all animals who have horns.”