Letter calling for end to ivory trade published in the daily telegraph

As part of DSWF’s continuing work to bring an end to the trade in ivory, a letter from DSWF Founder and President, David Shepherd CBE calling for an end to the trade in ivory and outlining the failure of the Conservative Government to uphold its manifesto pledges to press for a total ban on ivory, has been published in The Daily Telegraph today (May 11). In it David wrote:

“With the upcoming general election, there is a chance to end this bloody trade once and for all,” wrote David. “We urge all political parties to include in their manifestos concrete measures, to be implemented in the first 100 days of the new Government, to crack down on wildlife crime, ban the ivory trade in Britain altogether, and support Botswana, Kenya and China who are currently leading the world in protecting elephants from extinction.

“Irrespective of the result of the election, all eyes will be on the UK Government next year when they host the fourth high level meeting on Illegal Wildlife Trade in London.  It is my passionate hope, and that of our supporters and millions of concerned voters, that the Government steps up and becomes a world leader in the fight against wildlife crime.”

The letter was supported by:

Simon King, OBE
Mark Carwardine
Paul O’Grady, MBE
Joanna Lumley
Will Travers, OBE
President of Born Free
Bibhab Talukdar
General Secretary, Aaranyak
Mike Keigwin MBE
Founder and Director, Ugandan Conservation Foundation
Sport Beattie
Founder and CEO, Game Rangers International

You can read the full letter here: Letter to the Telegraph
For more about our work to end the ivory trade click here