MICHAEL Gove is to announce a complete UK ban on the ivory trade next week.

The Environment Secretary will unveil the crackdown after 60,000 people responded to a government consultation exercise.

3 Michael Gove is to announce a complete UK ban on the ivory trade Credit: PA:Press Association

He is expected to close a loophole which allows the sale of antique items made from ivory before 1947 amid fears it is being exploited by dealers.

His officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs may leave in place an exemption to let musical instrument dealers to buy and sell antique pianos.

Mr Gove is pushing a series of animal-friendly measures after the Tories were pummelled on the issue in the 2017 election.

He wants Britain to lead the world in stopping the ivory trade, which encourages poachers in Africa to kill up to 20,000 elephants a year.

3 Up to 20,000 elephants a year are killed for ivory in Africa Credit: AFP or licensors

3 Last year Mr Gove said the ivory trade 'shames our generation' Credit: AFP

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Last year, Mr Gove said: “The need for radical and robust action to protect one of the world’s most iconic and treasured species is beyond dispute.”

He put forward the full ivory trade ban, saying it “shames our generation”.

In 2016 Prince William voiced his support for a crackdown, warning the African elephant will have disappeared from the wild by the time his daughter, Princess Charlotte, turns 25.

Sir David Attenborough presents this history of Jumbo the elephant, the inspiration behind Dumbo