IVORY TRADE INFORMATION PROJECT
22 June 1990
You have been in touch with my officials about your
proposals for an Ivory Trade Information Project, the
purpose of which will be to coordinate information to facilitate prosecution of those trading in illegal ivory and also to educate the public on the ivory trade and the
African elephant.
Clearly it is crucial to the future of the African
elephant that we all play a part both in assisting African countries to combat poaching and in the fight against illegal trading in ivory. You will know that through the Overseas Development Administration we are providing assistance to African countries for the conservation of
wildlife, including the elephant, and this is particularly so in East Africa. And Her Majesty's Customs and Excise
have been very active in tackling illegal trade in ivory
through the United Kingdom. You may have read about seizures of illegal ivory at London Heathrow and Gatwick
airports. In Hong Kong the authorities have set up a Customs task force to combat any illegal trade and have taken a number of other measures such as the increasing by five-fold of fines for illegal trading.