On January 6, China’s forestry and customs officials joined forces to organize the country’s first public ivory destruction in Dongguan, Guangdong. According to the official figure, the total amount of destroyed ivory reached 6.1 tonnes.
Before being pulverized, the destroyed items - including ornaments, carvings and tusks - were displayed in piles. According to the officials, they were all confiscated through smuggling and illegal ivory carving factories throughout China. The black market price for ivory has reached RMB30,000 ($4,957) per kilo in recent years.
Although the 6.1 tonne stacks only amount to a small portion of the illegal ivory business currently believed to take place in China, the dramatic display indicated the Chinese government’s determination to fight against illegal ivory trading and wildlife smuggling.
[Photo via Xinhua]
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