Nearly 100 African elephants are killed each day by poachers. Elephants are slaughtered in many parts of the world for their ivory tusks which are then used as decoration or in traditional medicines in Asia. Surprisingly, despite harsh anti-poaching regulations and an ever-declining elephant population, people continue to buy and sell it. To me this is wrong.

One of the largest online auction houses in the world Liveauctioneers.com is currently functioning as a clearinghouse for both collectors and vendors of rare elephant ivory. Tens of thousands of ivory items, taken at the expense of an elephant's life, are up for grabs to the highest bidder. A respectable business should want no part of this trade, whether or not the ivory is “legally acquired”. No one should be encouraged to buy these products and create even more demand for the poaching of such majestic creatures. Tell Liveauctioneers.com to do the right thing and stop allowing the sale of ivory and other products derived from endangered animals.

My name is Robert Stickley. I am an American currently living in Turkey as an English teacher. I collect art, paintings, drawings, sculptures, etcetera and almost every time I find something I like, I find the seller also peddles ivory which leads to a moral dilemma. I find ivory to be kitsch earned at the expense of endangered animals; totally irrational.  Having messaged many of the auctioneers that do sell ivory, I have come to the conclusion that they are waiting for someone above them to act.  Most realize that there is some apparent tort in their sale of ivory but are willing to put off change in order to reap short-term profits.

One vendor on Liveauctioneers.com was recently embroiled in a Department of Justice sting operation. The DOJ found that Elite Decorative Arts participated in the smuggling of illegally acquired rhino and elephant products from the US to China.

In 1980 there were an estimated 1.2 million African Elephants. 95% of the elephant population has been killed in the last 100 years. Now, in 2015 there are fewer than 500,000. Despite government efforts to curtail poaching, the global ivory market is booming. While Liveauctioneers.com may not be selling the ivory themselves, their site allows other vendors from around the world to do so. It’s time this stopped.

As a responsible company that want’s to be respected within the arts world, Liveauctioneers.com should stop sanctioning the sale of ivory. Join me and tell Liveauctioneers.com to stop allowing ivory to be sold on its site.