The UK introduced a new ivory trading law this week, it's an encouraging step forward, but following a poll we posted on social media we found that a huge 92 per cent of the LADbible audience want that ban extending worldwide.
The new laws will make it illegal to buy or sell any objects containing ivory, regardless of their age. The new rules are expected to come into force in late 2019 but anyone breaking the laws could face a fine or even go to prison.
When we published a poll on Twitter asking whether people think there should be a worldwide ban nearly 13,500 votes were cast with 92 per cent of people voting in favour.
Advert
One person who didn't agree said: "No. Flood the market with the tonnes of already confiscated ivory cheap. Saturate the market and make it worthless to the poachers to carry on killing."
To which someone responded: "That would just make the animal extinct."
Another said: "Yes but no. All this would do is make ivory items more rare and more valuable inflating the black market, there's needs to be an alternative solution."
Someone else said: "I mean assume you have an ivory something or other "worth" say £100. All of a sudden there's a ban and your item can't be bought anywhere in the world, the "value" goes up. It's simple supply and demand...the ban would remove all supply but demand would remain the same or more!"
Advert
One person who agreed with a worldwide ban posted: "Obviously. Ivory comes from mammals that are near extinction. As it is, we need to start collecting their DNA and prepare to increase their populations through cloning before they are extinct."
The number of elephants has declined by almost a third in the last decade and around 20,000 a year are still being slaughtered due to the global demand for ivory.
Environment Secretary, Michael Gove said: "It is an extraordinary achievement to have passed this Act of Parliament. The Ivory Act is a landmark in our fight to protect wildlife and the environment.
Advert
"The speed of its passage through Parliament shows the strength of feeling on all sides of the House on this critical issue.
"The UK has shown global leadership and delivered on a key commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan. We are determined to end this insidious trade and make sure ivory is never seen as a commodity for financial gain or a status symbol."
Professor Lee White CBE, director of the Gabonese National Parks Agency said: "This is an important step towards taking action to protect our precious elephants in Africa. At the Giants Club summit in April, Gabon along with many of our African partners called on Europe to implement a ban on commercial ivory sales.
Advert
"I am delighted to see the UK has listened to us in Africa and has continued to be a key partner, with Gabon, in this fight against the Illegal Wildlife Trade."