Lupita calls for a ban on ivory products

There is need to devalue ivory products, this is according to Academy Award winning actress Lupita Nyong’o.

The actress, who is also the Global Elephant Ambassador, announced that she would advocate globally for elephants with international conservation organisation WildAid, as well as promote women’s issues, acting and the arts in Kenya.

“I ask the world to end the current elephant poaching crisis by being ‘Ivory Free’. It is time to ban sales of ivory worldwide and to consign the tragedy of the ivory trade to history,” said the Global Elephant Ambassador.

This is the second time Lupita has come back to Kenya since her Oscar win in 2014 for the part she played in the movie ’12 Years a Slave’.

“I learnt that every 15 minutes an elephant is poached, the situation is grim. We need to support anti-poaching by reporting wildlife crime,” said the actress.

Ms Nyong’o joins a host of international icons including Jackie Chan, Yao Ming, Edward Norton, Prince William and David Beckham who are featured in the campaigns.

“I am glad to have worked together with Lupita in this campaign,” said Tanzanian musician Ali Kiba. “We are sending a strong message against poaching. Poaching steals from us all.”

Ali Kiba will be leading the campaign against poaching in Tanzania.

“Kenya has passed new strict laws and is cracking down through the courts, so there is some light at the end of the tunnel for elephants, and we hope Lupita can help us all secure their future,” said WildAid CEO Peter Knights.

WildAid focuses on reducing the demand for wildlife products and ending the illegal wildlife trade.

Across Africa, an estimated 33,000 elephants are killed annually for their ivory.

The biggest threats to Kenya’s elephants are poaching as well as loss of habitat.

“If we know the truth, then we can act. I have come to realise that when you know more, you do more,” said the actress.