Ivory ban extended to protect hippos and some whales

Trading ivory from a hippopotamus, narwhal, killer whale and sperm whale has been banned as part of conservation efforts, the UK government has said.

People breaking the rules could face an unlimited fine or up to five years in jail.

Ivory is a hard material found in the teeth and tusks of some animals, which is very valuable and is often sold for a lot of money.

It has been used as a material to make things like jewellery, piano keys and religious ornaments, but it's bad news for many animals who are illegally poached for their ivory.

The Ivory Act was originally introduced to protect elephants

What is the Ivory Act?

The Ivory Act was passed into law in 2018 to protect elephants and came into effect in 2022.

It makes it illegal to buy or sell any objects containing ivory, even if they are old.

The Act has now been extended to ban the importing, exporting and dealing of items containing ivory from four more species.

The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for things like food production and standards, as well as ensuring animals and fish are managed and looked after properly.

It says that after elephants, the hippopotamus is the species most at risk of being hunted for its ivory.

Hippos are being poached for their giant teeth

All four species are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Hippos and sperm whales are also categorised as 'vulnerable to extinction' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

They face threats from human activity, including from pollution, armed conflict and climate change.

The ivory trade adds extra pressure and could make their survival less likely.

Narwhals are also called 'the unicorns of the sea' and it's easy to see why

The law was also going to extend to walrus ivory, but its import and trade in the UK is already restricted under other legislation on seal products.

The government said closing domestic ivory markets was a critical part of the UK's efforts to conserve species worldwide.

Orcas, also known as killer whales, are also included in the Ivory Act

'An important moment for all wildlife lovers'

Mary Creagh, international nature minister, described the ban as an "important moment for all wildlife lovers".

She said: "The Ivory Act is one of the toughest bans in the world. This new government is showing global leadership by enshrining these protections into law to tackle the poaching of these iconic animals."