2 million tonnes of ivory destroyed as Thailand steps up fight against illegal trade

Wildlife officials in Thailand destroyed more than two tonnes of confiscated ivory worth about $3 million on Wednesday in what one rights group called a milestone in the fight against the illegal trade. Raw tusks and carved trinkets were fed into an industrial rock crusher before being incinerated in a ceremony watched by prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. “Elephants are our national symbol and are under threat from poaching and trade,” Gen Prayut said. “This is to show the Thai government’s strong determination to oppose ivory trafficking and that Thailand will comply with international rules.” Sallie Yang, from anti-trafficking organisation Freeland, said the destruction was a “milestone” but more needed to be done to stamp out the trade and to catch perpetrators.

I will no longer tolerate corruption and ignorance on this matter

Gen Payut

The ivory trade was banned in 1989 but that has not stopped criminals from scrambling to meet burgeoning demand, particularly from China and Vietnam. Thailand is a top destination for African ivory smuggling in Asia and has come under increasing pressure to crack down on the trade. Animal rights campaigners have long accused successive governments of turning a blind eye to the problem. However, in January, new legislation was passed to control the possession and trade of ivory and in April customs officials seized four tonnes of ivory worth $6 million. After Wednesday’s ceremony, executive director of Freeland Steven Galster said: “Today’s act shows that the Thai government is taking wildlife crime more seriously, which is very important since Thailand has served as one of the world’s largest transit points for global wildlife trafficking.”

It is now critical that this greatly enhanced effort is sustained

John Scanlon, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

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