Save the Elephants

Lib Dem Euro MP Catherine Bearder has launched a campaign to keep the ivory trade illegal. Tanzania and Zambia have asked for permission to sell their ivory stocks despite it being against the law. Previous 'one off sales' of ivory have led to a rise in poaching and a greater risk of elephant extinction in huge parts of Africa. Many countries across Africa, led by Kenya and Mali, are strongly opposed to the proposal. Representatives from these countries are urging the European Union and Britain not to support the sale. A decision will be made on their request at a meeting of CITES (an international body that controls endangered species trade) in Qatar next March. Catherine, who last week met with representatives from the African Elephant Coalition, said, "I've started this petition to highlight the massive opposition to any ivory sale and to downgrading the protection status of elephants." "The ban in trading African ivory was introduced to strangle the market for Ivory. If...

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Lib Dem Euro MP Catherine Bearder has spoken out against calls from two African countries to temporarily legalise the ivory trade. Tanzania and Zambia have asked for a special allowance to sell their current stocks of ivory at a meeting that controls endangered species trade (CITES) next March. On hearing of these proposals Catherine said, "being the wife of a zoologist, and having lived in southern Africa for many years, I have a huge personal interest in the conservation of these animals." As well as being a member of the Committee on International Trade, Catherine is on the Parliament's delegation to the (ACP) African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The decision will be voted on at the meeting of the UN's CITES in Qatar next March. Previous 'one off' sales of ivory have led to a rise in poaching and another risk that elephants will become extinct in huge parts of Africa. Many countries across Africa, led by Kenya and Mali, are strongly opposed to the proposal....

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