MADAM – I write on behalf of Action for Elephants UK in response to Ian Harris’ letter published in ATG No 2320. Our group has been calling on the government to fulfil the promise made in two election manifestos and impose a total ban on the UK ivory trade.
We feel we must refute key points raised in Mr Harris’ letter.
WWPoint 1:Elephants should not, of course, be slaughtered for their tusks, but on the other hand there are thousands of tons of ivory lying in warehouses around the world. If this was released onto the open market, instead of virtue-signalling by burning it, the price would be lowered to a level where poaching was no longer profitable.