China’s Ivory Crush

Today marks a monumental day in history when China destroyed 6.2 tones of illegal ivory.

Experts believe that most illegal ivory is headed to China — with some estimating the country accounts for as much as 70 percent of global demand. China has confiscated at least 16 tonnes of ivory in the past three years, according to media reports. The remaining stockpiles have not been destroyed because they are subject to “ongoing court proceedings.” However, the total volume of ivory stockpiling in China remains unknown.

Some hopeful quotes from conservation leaders about today’s crush:

“With measures like this we can still save elephants from being driven towards extinction,” said Iain Douglas-Hamilton from Save the Elephants

“China is sending a very powerful message both domestically, to the Chinese people, and internationally, that it is not prepared to tolerate the illegal trade in elephant ivory,” said CITES Secretary General John Scanlon.

“The event, the first public ivory destruction in China, was to demonstrate the country’s determination to discourage illegal ivory trade, protect wildlife and raise public awareness,” said Zhang Jianlong, deputy head of the State Forestry Administration (SFA).

We are excited to see 2014 beginning with this hopeful step in the right direction for elephants in China. However, we were disappointed to hear  the state-run China National Radio reporting that only some of the crushed ivory powder will be disposed of.  The rest will be displayed in a museum exhibit ‘preserved’ — with talk of the powder being used as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine.

The ivory from these elephants needs to be destroyed and discarded. Only then will China be showing it’s people that ivory is not worth anything when it’s NOT on the elephant. Ivory belongs to the elephants.

WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: MAKING 2014 THE YEAR OF THE ELEPHANT!

1. Pledge to Protect – visit the David Sheldrick site to make your new years resolution to protect elephants by fostering an orphan, spreading the word to your friends about the elephant crisis, taking part in local awareness activities and more.
2. Rise Up For Elephants – award winning photographer Michael North is offering a limited edition DVD containing the 100 large format high-resolution photographs contained in this video for US$145 including postage. The purchase entitles you to print any and all of the 100 photographs contained on the DVD for personal use. For every DVD purchased, an orphan elephant will be adopted in your name for an orphan from the Kenya Children’s Home or for someone special or, indeed, for yourself.