China Destroys Illegal Ivory Stockpile

A couple of months ago the United States destroyed its stockpile of illegal ivory for the first time in over two decades of making seizures. China did the same at the beginning of January destroying a stockpile of its own ivory that the government had confiscated alongside other illegal wildlife products.

The announcement that China would destroy its confiscated ivory was made by the Wildlife Conservation Society which helps governments to stop trafficking in ivory. The organisation did not mention how much of the stuff would be destroyed nor how the Chinese government would dispense with the contraband. In November last year the United States got rid of as much as 6 tons of ivory by way of a rock crusher.

International trade in ivory was banned over two decades ago in 1989 but black markets still persist in different parts of the world. It is estimated that as many as 96 elephants a day are killed by poachers in Africa seeking to get their hands on their tusks according to the WCS. This has had a dramatic impact on elephant numbers which have declined precipitously across the African continent which has given way to serious concerns by conservationists.