eBay Bans Sale of Ivory (and Not the Soap)

Recently reported on its own blog, eBay intends to ban auctions of ivory on its global sites at the beginning of 2009. For me, this is a great announcement and one that can only lead to questions over the rights of what should and should not be allowed to transpire online. In my view, we should respond with crippling fines to stop the likes of eBay and other companies exploiting the trade of endangered species.

The New York Times has reported that this ban only happened due to the fact that the International Fund for Animal Welfare had been pressing eBay to stop allowing the sale of wildlife or wildlife parts. A six-week investigation tracking more than 7,000 listings of wildlife or their feathers, teeth or pelts — which were offered for sale on more than 185 websites in 11 countries. The report indicates that the vast majority of the illegal online trade in endangered animals is done on eBay.

I am a big fan of eBay and a big fan of elephants. I have many photographic books with amazing pictures of elephants and when growing up my favorite toy was always a soft cuddly, pink and gray Nelly the elephant. Elephants are incredible animals that exhibit many of our human traits and emotions such as sadness, fear, excitement, distress and joy. They also mourn when one of their herd dies.

About two years ago, I was involved with a company trying to raise money for the film industry using donations from large corporations as charity investments. One of the movies for which we worked was The Elephants of the Okavango, which is currently in post production. I had discovered the Okavango Delta in Botswana, through Planet Earth — which for me is still one of the best TV shows ever shot. It is the only inland delta in the world and is used by a huge number of animals for their drinking water. Unfortunately, with global warming, the delta is becoming smaller and smaller and these animals may suffer (or die) as a result. Let's hope eBay does get serious about these auctions. Read more here.