Canada bans trade in ivory and rhino horn

Groundbreaking measures against wildlife trade

The Canadian government has just announced a ban on the domestic trade in elephant ivory and rhino horn, as well as on the importation of hunting trophies containing these parts.

This important step is the result of a seven-year campaign by Humane Society International/Canada and is supported by an overwhelming majority of leading conservationists, animal protection groups, African states and prominent Canadians.

25’000 elephants murdered every year

The African elephant population has declined by 96% over the last century, and scientists warn that they, along with many rhino species, could go extinct within the coming decades if action is not taken globally to deter poachers.

Every year, up to 25’000 elephants and 1’300 rhinos are killed in Africa by hobby hunters. In March 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updated its Red List of Threatened Species, classifying the African forest elephant as critically endangered and the African savanna elephant as endangered.

A precedent for the world

“Our government is committed to protecting, conserving and promoting biodiversity around the world, including reversing the global decline of elephant and rhino populations,” said Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “By strengthening Canada’s response to wildlife trade, we will enforce practical solutions that effectively combat the illegal ivory trade and support species conservation .”

“As a conservationist working on the ground in Kenya, I have witnessed the devastating impact of poaching and trophy hunting on African elephant and rhinoceros populations firsthand," said Dr. Winnie Kiiru, Kenyan biologist and leading elephant conservationist. "We need countries around the world to act now to protect these magnificent animals, and Canada's measures send an important message: ivory belongs to the elephants."