John Leech MP Pledges to Protect Endangered Elephants from the Deadly Ivory Trade

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 6th Jun 2008

John Leech MP Opposes Illegal and Brutal Ivory Trade

MP for Manchester Withington, John Leech, is backing the International Fund for Animal Welfare's (IFAW) latest campaign to protect thousands of endangered elephants from the brutal ivory trade.

John Leech MP said: "Next month is crucial for IFAW's campaign as China may well be allowed to buy ivory from government stockpiles in South Africa. Although the ivory trade has been banned since 1989, an illegal trade sees the death of 20,000 elephants per year to meet demand.

"I am joining IFAW to call on the government to bring together EU partners to oppose China as an ivory buyer. We must stamp out such a cruel practice before it is too late."

Notes to editors:

1. China is the single major destination for illegal ivory and has the world's largest black market.

2. Soaring Chinese demand for ivory is responsible for the death of a large number of elephants.

3. In Africa, Chinese citizens have been convicted of illegally trading ivory in 22 of the 37 elephant range states.

4. It is estimated that if China is approved as an ivory buyer it will open the floodgates to allow large quantities of illegal ivory to be traded.

5. Elephants are protected from trade by the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. This is an agreement signed by more than 170 countries, regulating trade in about 5,000 species of animals and 25,000 species of plants.

6. In June 2007, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe were permitted a one-off sale of ivory from their stockpiles. Japan has been approved as a buyer and now China also wants to benefit. China's request to be a trading partner will be considered in Geneva, July 2008.