Commenting in the Independent today on a proposed ‘one-off’ auction of ivory which conservationists fear could lead to more elephants being slaughtered, Green MEP for the South East Caroline Lucas said:

"The African elephant population is in crisis, and it’s not enough for the British government to take a ‘wait and see approach’. Instead of hiding behind advice from officials, ministers should show leadership by giving a clear guarantee now that they will oppose a further one-off sale."

Environmental campaigners are calling on Britain to take a lead in opposing proposals by Tanzania and Zambia to sell their ivory stocks, which will be voted on at the next meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Qatar in March.

Other African countries, led by Kenya and Mali, are strongly opposed to the idea, and are sending representatives to Brussels to urge the European Union not to support it. If it went ahead, the sale would be the third "one-off" auction of ivory since the world ban came into force, 20 years ago last week.

ENDS