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Wildlife charities are urging eBay to put pop-up legal warnings on the auction site because thousands of traders are flouting its ban on selling ivory.

Campaigners and police are concerned at the number who are advertising ivory but are describing it as ox bone or faux ivory.

The website banned all ivory sales after an investigation by the International Fund for Animal Welfare highlighted the sale of 2,275 elephant ivory items in a single week in 2007.

Since then conservationists say sellers have got round the ban by not using the word “ivory” when describing items for sale. However, police say some are effectively committing fraud.

Last month a Battersea businessman was fined £1,375 after he admitted illegally selling ivory on eBay.

Alick Brown, 30, who ran two companies, Arctic Antiques and Ice Antiques, under an assumed name, was found in possession of a quantity of antique worked ivory.

Brown, who pleaded guilty to three counts of trading in products of endangered species, had advertised the products on eBay as ox bone.

Ivory pieces can be sold legally if they were made before 1947 but traders must obtain certificates to prove the origin and pre-1947 ivory becomes illegal if it has been re-worked.

Detective Inspector Nevin Hunter, the head of the National Wildlife Crime Unit, said: “The vast majority of ivory on eBay is legal to sell. The ban on eBay means people are selling it in other ways, which in fact does not help us.

“People are effectively committing fraud and this is criminalising a large number. We need eBay to make sure that sellers comply with the law.” The call for action comes days before a major conference in London on the illegal wildlife trade, to be attended by heads of state, the Prince of Wales and Prince William.

The conference aims to bring together global leaders to help eradicate the multi-billion pound trade.

The Evening Standard’s sister papers The Independent and i are campaigning with wildlife charity Space For Giants for urgent action to end the slaughter.

Tania McCrea-Steele, IFAW’s campaigns manager, said: “We are concerned that some people have been blatantly trying to get round the eBay ban by disguising their items. We are pleased to see the police have taken a proactive approach.

“It may be that there are people who do not understand the consequences, or who do not understand the law so we are talking to eBay about ways in which they can improve consumer awareness on their website. One idea is pop-ups on their site to make people aware of the legislation.

“We see a lot of people trading in wildlife products and we want to make sure they understand.”

Charities say trading in ivory on the internet is fuelling the illegal poaching of elephants in Africa.

Simon Pope, director of campaigns at World Society for the Protection of Animals, said : “The growth of the internet has created a global marketplace for endangered animals, which has been ruthlessly exploited by criminals.

“Ivory from a slaughtered elephant can now be bought on a credit card from a laptop, shipped by post and delivered through the letter box. It has all become much too easy.”

An eBay spokesman said: “eBay works closely with conservation groups, many of whom recognise the significant steps we take to stop the sale of ivory products. We proactively enforce our policy and quickly take action to remove listings of items of concern. We are also committed to educating sellers of our site guidelines.”

For more information about The Independent's Elephant campaign click here