Hong Kong's chief executive, Leung Chun-Ying, announced on Jan. 13 that the city will take active steps to finally eliminate the trade of ivory. Hong Kong has become a hub for trade of this kind, with 400 legal vendors selling the controversial, expensive product; and the high demand has fueled the poaching of elephants all over Africa, according to The Huffington Post.
Every year, 30,000 elephants are killed for their ivory, so it's no surprise they are on the brink of extinction. However, Hong Kong's great news will mean that one of the biggest hubs for ivory will no longer operate, seriously limiting selling opportunities for poachers. It's a crucial step in the protection of the species, reported The Huffington Post.
Leung spoke Wednesday at the Legislative council. "The government is very concerned about the illegal poaching of elephants in Africa. It will kickstart legislative procedures as soon as possible to ban the import and export of elephant hunting trophies," he said, reported The Guardian.
Animal activists all over the world are rejoicing. Alex Hofford, who works at WildAid Hong Kong, is thrilled about this development. WildAid has actively campaigned for years for this historic motion to be brought into reality. "Hong Kong ivory traders are no more than proxy killers of African elephants and have been operating under the nose of the authorities with complete impunity from the law for decades," said Hofford, according to The Huffington Post.
Gavin Edwards, the Conservation Director of World Wildlife Federation Hong Kong, is also praising Leung's move. "The Chief Executive's decision represents a significant step toward the end of Hong Kong's ivory trade and a major milestone for elephant conservation. It is no longer a question of if a ban is needed - we can focus on when and how to end Hong Kong's ivory trade," he said, according to The World Wildlife Federation.
