Andrew Gwynne, the Labour MP for Denton and Reddish, is taking a stand to protect thousands of endangered elephants from the brutal ivory trade.  In July, a decision may be made to allow China to buy ivory from government stockpiles in southern Africa – a move that could spell disaster for elephants.

Andrew Gwynne MP is supporting the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s ivory trade campaign calling on the government to bring together EU partners to oppose China as an ivory buyer.

Ivory trade has been banned since 19891, however, every year approximately 20,000 elephants are killed to supply the illegal ivory trade, and this is on the increase. China is the single major destination for this illegal ivory, and has the world's largest black market for ivory.

IFAW is campaigning around the world to ensure that China is not allowed to import stockpiled ivory2, a move which could see ivory from illegally killed African elephants being laundered within legal stocks, due to the country’s inadequate enforcement controls.

There is strong evidence that soaring Chinese demand for ivory is responsible for the deaths of large numbers of elephants. In Africa, Chinese citizens have been convicted of illegally trading ivory in 22 of the 37 elephant range states. Only last month, two Chinese nationals were charged with the possession and attempted smuggling of ivory out of Kenya. Whilst in March, approximately one ton of ivory was seized in Guangxi, China, representing the death of at least 80 elephants.3  

Andrew Gwynne MP said:

"I am proud to support IFAW’s campaign to protect elephants from being slaughtered for their tusks. These majestic creatures are being killed by poachers by the tens of thousands each year for the cruel and unsustainable trade in ivory. I believe elephants belong in the wild and should be protected in their natural habitat for future generations. We must stamp out ivory trade before it is too late."

Robbie Marsland, Director of IFAW UK said:

"If China is approved as an ivory buyer it will open the floodgates to allow large quantities of illegal ivory to be traded. The rise in legal trade will act as a smokescreen for illegal ivory to be laundered on the black market. Opposing this decision is crucial in the fight to protect the world's remaining elephants."