|
|
IFAW Investigation Pushes eBay to Announce Global Ban of All International Ivory Trade |
|
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, Jun. 6 -/E-Wire/-- International online commerce site eBay has today said that it will announce a ban on the international trade of elephant ivory on all of its sites around the globe, creating the first-ever online international trade ban of elephant ivory. This decision follows an eight-country international investigation by IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare - www.ifaw.org) of ivory for sale on eBay sites, and face-to-face meetings between IFAW and eBay senior officials in the U.S. and across Europe. This announcement comes as more than 170 nations convene in The Hague for the 14th meeting of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) to consider a twenty-year elephant ivory trade moratorium.
|
In its survey carried out in February 2007, IFAW found that 94 percent of elephant ivory for sale on eBay sites was potentially illegal. The report also found that eBay policies varied from country to country and were often vague and not enforced.
|
In its announcement, eBay stated that in addition to the ban of international trade (trade between nations), that clearer and stricter policies would be implemented on a national level for in-country trade.
|
Peter Pueschel, IFAW Head of Global Program Against Wildlife Trade, said of the news: "This is fantastic news that an international company of eBay's commercial and financial might has taken groundbreaking steps to protect elephants from the international illegal ivory trade. IFAW believes that this is an important step forward, but that a total ban is ultimately needed, and we will continue to work with eBay and others to implement this."
|
The IFAW report is available online. To learn more about IFAW's global campaign to protect elephants from commercial trade, visit www.ifaw.orgtoday.
|
|
About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)
|
Founded in 1969, IFAW is an international animal welfare and conservation organization that works to protect wild and domestic animals and to broker solutions that benefit both animals and people. With offices in 15 countries around the world, IFAW works to protect whales, elephants, great apes, big cats, dogs and cats, seals, and other animals. Contact Info:
|
Lynn Levine (IFAW)
|
Cell : 508-648-3557
|
Temp. Local Mob.: 31 (0)6 3882 4186
|
E-mail: llevine@ifaw.org
|
Jennifer Ferguson-Mitchell (IFAW)
|
Cell : 508-737-1584
|
Temp. Local Mob.: 31 (0)6 3882 4184
|
E-mail: jfm@ifaw.org Website : the International Fund for Animal Welfare
|
