China has now joined the U.S., Gabon, and the Philippines in recently crushing its ivory stockpile – six tons of confiscated elephant tusks. It remains to be seen whether China’s ivory crush is a true step in the right direction for the world’s largest consumer of ivory. Publicity stunt or move toward an end to China’s domestic ivory market? [teaserbreak]
China’s crush took place in what many consider to be the epicenter of the country’s illegal ivory trade. But Hong Kong, one of China’s Special Administrative Regions, is a known consumer destination for ivory from elephants poached in Africa and is also a key transit point for ivory entering China.
It’s time for Hong Kong to destroy its ivory, too. Compassionate conservationists across the globe must make our voices heard: no more bloody ivory trade!
On the 23rd of January, this Thursday, a meeting of the Endangered Species Advisory Committee will be held in Hong Kong to discuss the option of destruction for the country’s stockpile. Let’s make sure they do the right thing. Write to: mailbox@afcd.gov.hk
Over the past two years, Born Free has recorded the seizure of at least 14.6 tons of ivory by Hong Kong law enforcement agencies (www.bloodyivory.org) and some estimate the Region’s stockpile at 33.8 tons.
Few would have imagined that China would ever consider holding an ivory destruction event. But it’s been under consideration by the Hong Kong authorities for a while, since at least 2012. ‘Let’s open a museum, hold an exhibition. Give it to schools, universities, and colleges,’ they’ve been saying – ‘it’s educational.’ Where have we heard this before?! If ivory is not on an elephant roaming wild and free, it has no place on Earth – not around a neck or a wrist, not on a mantelpiece, and not in government reserves stashed away for a rainy day.
Blogging off,
Will