Calls for Canada to Ban the Ivory Trade

​worldanimalnews.com/more-than-40-organizations-worldwide-call-for-a-ban-on-the-elephant-ivory-trade-in-canada-to-help-save-elephants-from-extinction-in-the-wild/

More than 40 worldwide organizations are calling on Canada's newly formed government to take a stand for elephants by ending the ivory trade within the country. Canada is being urged to take on the most drastic protections which would include a ban on any ivory entering the country. This would end hunting trophies from elephants being permitted in to the country which at this point, is long overdue.

With all that we know about the perils African elephants face, it's embarrassing that Canada has refrained from implementing these changes. I've said this before, but Canada is leaps and bounds behind some of the more progressive countries across the globe who have taken real steps towards real welfare improvements. Our country has consistently given mixed messaging about animal welfare, taking steps to improve while simultaneously taking steps backwards. Just look at our cetacean captivity ban for example! We took the initiative to ban NEW cetacean captivity but allowed exploitative industries like Marine Land to keep the ones they already had. We need a clear stance on animal welfare.

We know the horrors African wildlife are facing. Fragmentation, drought, habitat loss, poaching, trophy hunting, and continued human conflict. Knowing all that we know about their struggles, Canada has a responsibility to take any and all precautions to protect these species because let's face it, extinction is a real possibility. We could ultimately see the extinction of some of our planet's most recognizable and beloved species which includes the elephant. Elephants are hunted illegally for their ivory, have faced endless drought, are hunted for trophies, and continue to be killed in conflicts with African communities. These majestic and intuitive animals are going to be extinct unless we take crucial and necessary steps to protect them. Steps that naturally include ending our participation in the ivory trade.

Hunting trophies are disgusting, especially if you take into consideration the many perils elephants already face to their survival. Why would someone be willing to put a bullet into an endangered animal so that they can return to Canada with the remains to put on display? Not only that, but why does our country still allow this sort of atrocity? We will never be a front runner on animal welfare if we're going to continue to allow ivory in to our country. Heck, at this rate we will retain our abysmal animal welfare grade for many years to come unless our current government makes welfare a priority. 

The only option is for Canada to ban the ivory trade. Elephants need their ivory, we do not. We must ban the import of ivory altogether, including trophies from hunts. There's no excuse for our continued participation in the decimation of up to 35, 000 elephants every year. Extinction is permanent and we need to start acting like it. 

HAPPY VEG