Stop Ivory, an NGO for the conservation of African Elephants, in its latest campaign highlights how ivory trade, despite being illegal, continues to take place and urges the UK government to convert the ban into law.
The campaign, titled 'Going,Going Gone', was conceptualised by JWT London and features an auction taking place where people are bidding for an ivory tusk. As the bidding concludes and the gavel falls, a gunshot is heard and a spatter of blood hits the buyer's face as she is confronted with the elephant in the room whose tusk has been just cut off for her.
According to Stop Ivory, an elephant is slaughtered every 15 minutes for its ivory.
Stop Ivory further aims to leverage the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference 2018 in London in October to appeal to all countries that still allow ivory trade to follow the UK’s lead and implement a ban.
Lucas Peon, executive creative director at J. Walter Thompson said: “There is a lack of understanding amongst the public regarding the UK and Europe’s role in the increase of illegal poaching – people do not see a link between a piece of ivory and slaughtered elephants. We want to get word out before populations are irreversibly lost to the illegal trade in ivory.”
John Stephenson, Stop Ivory’s CEO said: “The existence of this “legal” trade provides a hiding place for illegal ivory, and undermines the message that only when the buying stops will the killing stop. Time is running out: the trade must stop now. China and the UK have shown the way - the EU and other countries must follow."
The campaign consists of a film and digital billboards which are being delivered by Clear Channel, across the country
JWT London: Stop Ivory 'Going,Going Gone'