Hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, orca, sperm whale to get extra protection in UK
The Community News/London
Five endangered marine species of Hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, orca (killer whale) and sperm whale are set to get extra protection under UK’s toughest Ivory Act 2018.
These species are listed as endangered under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species( CITES) and Int’l Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
On Tuesday, the British government announced ban on trade of these species’ ivory which is part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s animal welfare manifesto.
Commenting on the development, UK’s Biodiversity Minister Trudy Harrison said the ban will fulfill key manifesto promise on conservation of these species.
“The Ivory Act will extend greater legal protections to five more species and we are sending a clear message the commercial trade of ivory is totally unacceptable.
The UK has long led the way in conservation and the ban shows our continued global leadership in doing all we can to protect the world’s most endangered species.”
It is worth noting that hippopotamus is most endangered after elephants for ivory while the other marine species are badly affected by climate change.
The UK’s much touted Ivory Act is cited as the world’s most toughest law that provides for unlimited fine in addition to five years jail term.
