ANGUS MP Mike Weir has expressed dismay at the decision to allow China to buy ivory from government stockpiles in southern Africa—a move that conservationists say could spell disaster for elephants.

Mr Weir, who has previously supported the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s ivory trade campaign opposing China as an ivory buyer, said he was especially angry that the UK government, representing the European Union, voted in favour of the sale.

He said, “I am proud to support IFAW’s campaign to protect elephants from being slaughtered for their tusks.

“These majestic creatures are being killed by poachers by the tens of thousands each year for the cruel and unsustainable trade in ivory.”

He added, “We must stamp out ivory trade before it is too late.’

Trading in ivory has been banned since 1989 but every year approximately 20,000 elephants are killed to supply the illegal ivory trade.

China is the main destination for illegal ivory and has the world’s largest ivory black market.

IFAW is campaigning around the world to ensure China is not allowed to import stockpiled ivory, a move which could see ivory from illegally killed African elephants being laundered within legal stocks due to inadequate enforcement controls.

Mr Weir said, “There is strong evidence that soaring Chinese demand for ivory is responsible for the deaths of large numbers of elephants.

“In Africa, Chinese citizens have been convicted of illegally trading ivory in 22 of the 37 elephant range states and, only last month, two Chinese nationals were charged with the possession and attempted smuggling of ivory out of Kenya.”

He added, “The decision by the UK government to support this move is unfathomable and undermines its international reputation.

“Is it especially strange given that one of the main beneficiaries will be Zimbabwe at the very time the UK is trying to get international agreement on sanctions against the Mugabe regime.”