The assembled crowd, led by the Charity's Founder, actress Virginia McKenna, held a moving one hour vigil to mark the death of over 1500 African elephants killed this year alone by the brutal and bloody ivory trade. In the centre of College Green a statuesque pyre of plaster tusks, was ceremoniously laid, a shocking representation of how many elephants have lost their lives. Adding their backing to Born Free's call to ban the trade in ivory, over 20 British MP's signed the 'Stop the Clock' petition and received a copy of a harrowing report released today by the Foundation, which details the devastating impact the trade is having on Africa's elephant population. In an impassioned speech, Will Travers, Chief Executive officer of the Born Free Foundation, called on the UK government to save Africa's elephants and vote, together with their European partners, for a world-wide ban on the trade in ivory. I believe that the situation is actually worse than even our evidence shows.
Bad systems give bad information, leading to bad analysis and ultimately bad decisions.
A further 16 tonnes of ivory in the marketplaces of Africa. Over 6,000 cases of elephants poached in just two years. Field reports from conservationists on the ground indicating increased poaching and a fast growing trade. Lack of proper poaching reports from almost all countries where elephants are found. Based on the above information, Born Free estimates that as many as 15,000 elephants a year are now being killed and that the charity's original estimate of just under 9,000 a year may, tragically, prove to be a gross underestimation.