ELEPHANT PROTECTION

That this House recognises that elephants in Africa and Asia are facing a severe and growing threat; highlights with grave concern the hundreds of elephants massacred in Cameroon earlier this year and notes that ivory seizures in 2011 reached record highs; welcomes the Coalition Agreement commitment to press for a ban on ivory sales and encourages greater resources to be made available to combat the illegal ivory trade both in the UK and abroad; further highlights with grave concern the decline in the Asian elephant population by up to 90 per cent in the last 100 years, particularly due to extensive loss of habitat, a threat which remains unaddressed on an international level; notes with concern the illegal trade in live elephants in Asia for the tourist and entertainment industries; further welcomes the Government's support for the African Elephant Action Plan and calls on the Government to support the development of an Asian Elephant Action Plan; and encourages the Government to take a lead in protecting elephants internationally.