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UK bans elephant ivory trade
"Legal ivory markets have long provided a smokescreen for illegal trade, putting endangered elephants in further jeopardy" - James Sawyer, IFAW.
It is now illegal to sell ivory of any age. 

Yesterday (6 June), the UK's Ivory Act came into effect, creating a near-total ban on the sale of elephant ivory in the country.

Putting a stop to the UK trade in ivory, the ban on the import, export and dealing of items containing elephant ivory covers ivory items of all ages. 

With a narrowly defined set of exemptions, it is now illegal to deal in the items unless they have an exemption certificate, or have been registered. 

Lord Goldsmith, animal welfare minister, commented on the act: “The world-leading Ivory Act coming into force represents a landmark moment in securing the survival of elephants across the globe for future generations.

“Thousands of elephants are unnecessarily and cruelly targeted for their ivory every year for financial gain. 

“As one of the toughest bans of its kind, we are sending a clear message the commercial trade of elephant ivory is totally unacceptable.” 

The importance of the act for animal welfare cannot be overstated, with an estimated 20,000 elephants slaughtered annually for the ivory trade. 

James Sawyer, director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said: “Today is a good day for elephants. With as many as 20,000 elephants a year poached for ivory, this ban could not have come a moment too soon. 

“IFAW believes ivory should only be valued on a live elephant and the overwhelming public support for banning the trade shows the majority of people feel the same.

“Legal ivory markets have long provided a smokescreen for illegal trade, putting endangered elephants in further jeopardy. 

“Ivory trading in the UK has now rightly been consigned to the history books and everyone who has played a part in this important conservation victory should be proud.” 

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.