China - Dongguang Ivory Crush by WildAid
WildAid, Save the Elephants, and the African Wildlife Foundation applaud China’s decision to destroy an estimated 6 tons of confiscated ivory in Dongguang today. In 2013, the NGOs, along with former NBA superstar Yao Ming and actress Li Bing Bing, called on China to raise awareness about elephant poaching, reduce the demand for ivory, and protect endangered wildlife.
“Today’s ivory crush is a significant step in raising public awareness and will hopefully lead to similar events throughout China,” said Yao Ming, who, alongside The Duke of Cambridge and David Beckham, will appear in a public service message to be broadcast by China’s leading television stations beginning this month.
China’s rapid economic development continues to build a burgeoning middle class that can afford—and is demanding in greater quantities— endangered wildlife products, such as ivory. The current demand for ivory is estimated to claim the lives of as many as 35,000 African elephants annually.
“The demand for illegally traded ivory negatively impacts Africa’s tourism industry and reportedly contributes to funds used by terror and insurgent groups,” said WildAid’s Executive Director Peter Knights.
WildAid spearheaded a campaign in 2006 to reduce the demand for shark fin soup in China. Through its partnership with Save the Elephants and the African Wildlife Foundation, similar public awareness tactics are being used to inform consumers of the impact of ivory demand.
“As the largest ivory market in the world, China has a significant role to play in combatting the illegal trade in ivory,” said African Wildlife Foundation CEO Patrick Bergin. “We commend the Chinese government for taking this important first step and hope it signals their sincere and growing commitment to help end the elephant slaughter in Africa.”
Recent surveys indicate a large portion of China’s population is unaware of the death toll to create ivory and rhino horn products, yet a greater number of residents support government enforced bans. (Read the ivory and rhino horn surveys.)
“Excess demand for ivory is the root of the elephant poaching crisis. All other efforts to stop the killing of elephants will be useless if the world doesn't stop buying ivory. China’s leadership could save Africa’s elephants,” said Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, CEO of Save the Elephants. — in Jilin, China. (near Jilin, China)
WildAid, Save the Elephants, and the African Wildlife Foundation applaud China’s decision to destroy an estimated 6 tons of confiscated ivory in Dongguang today. In 2013, the NGOs, along with former NBA superstar Yao Ming and actress Li Bing Bing, called on China to raise awareness about elephant poaching, reduce the demand for ivory, and protect endangered wildlife.
“Today’s ivory crush is a significant step in raising public awareness and will hopefully lead to similar events throughout China,” said Yao Ming, who, alongside The Duke of Cambridge and David Beckham, will appear in a public service message to be broadcast by China’s leading television stations beginning this month.
China’s rapid economic development continues to build a burgeoning middle class that can afford—and is demanding in greater quantities— endangered wildlife products, such as ivory. The current demand for ivory is estimated to claim the lives of as many as 35,000 African elephants annually.
“The demand for illegally traded ivory negatively impacts Africa’s tourism industry and reportedly contributes to funds used by terror and insurgent groups,” said WildAid’s Executive Director Peter Knights.
WildAid spearheaded a campaign in 2006 to reduce the demand for shark fin soup in China. Through its partnership with Save the Elephants and the African Wildlife Foundation, similar public awareness tactics are being used to inform consumers of the impact of ivory demand.
“As the largest ivory market in the world, China has a significant role to play in combatting the illegal trade in ivory,” said African Wildlife Foundation CEO Patrick Bergin. “We commend the Chinese government for taking this important first step and hope it signals their sincere and growing commitment to help end the elephant slaughter in Africa.”
Recent surveys indicate a large portion of China’s population is unaware of the death toll to create ivory and rhino horn products, yet a greater number of residents support government enforced bans. (Read the ivory and rhino horn surveys.)
“Excess demand for ivory is the root of the elephant poaching crisis. All other efforts to stop the killing of elephants will be useless if the world doesn't stop buying ivory. China’s leadership could save Africa’s elephants,” said Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, CEO of Save the Elephants. — in Jilin, China. (near Jilin, China)
237 Likes23 comments
Deborah Ann Sanchez and 236 others like this.
Tracy Stumpf
Only reason we see this is because these scum are not shot on sight .Thats thee only answer . Setting here saying how bad it is dosnt stop it . Getting rid of the problems is .Theres no gray area here .
8 yrsReport
Catharine Wing
It is very sad when you think that a lot of animals lost their lives in that pile alone!! At least this is a start for China. Hope they focus more on stopping the poaching
8 yrsReport
AGG. 29/5/2015 La Cina distrugge 662 chili di avorio illegale...Seghe diamantate e colpi di martello. La Cina… More non ha usato mezze misure per distruggere oltre 662 chili di avorio importati illegalmente e sequestrati (Epa) http://www.corriere.it/foto-gallery/ambiente/15_maggio_29/cina-distrugge-avorio-illegale-bb07d8a6-05db-11e5-93f3-3d6700b9b6d8.shtml
6/1/2014 CINA, i funzionari di Guangzhou, provincia del Guangdong, hanno polverizzato 6.1 tonnellate di zanne e sculture confiscate, oggi, in un evento in cui cui hanno partecipato rappresentanti di 10 paesi, tra cui Regno Unito, e gli stati di elefanti, tra cui il Kenya, Gabon, e Tanzania.
VIDEO:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1sIz3P7P7I
… More
8 yrsReport
Rene' Lauer
It's a nice start - but we all know this represents a fraction of their stockpile. Keep it coming
8 yrsReport
Samantha Durran
A tiny drop in the ocean but it is still a drop. China must close all ivory carving factories, make ivory illegal and educate the public that ivory is socially and morally unacceptable a material to own in this day and age. Crushing a bit here and there is not really significant until then sadly. "When the buying stops the killing can too."
8 yrsReport
Jackie Arkle
China should close all the ivory carving factories and shops and also the rhino horn processing factories if we are to really believe they aren't going to entertain any more poaching of our elephants and rhinos in Africa (for me Kenya being home). Otherwise this will just be a publicity stunt and we've seen this before. STOP ALL THE TRADE IN IVORY AND RHINO HORNS FOR ME TO BELIEVE YOU.
8 yrsReport
Shirley Aung
Thank you for doing this! I hope it gets the attention of the people of China . It is in your power to stop the demand for ivory! It would be very bad for China to go down in history as the country that caused the extinction of elephants! Please stop
the slaughter before it's too late!
the slaughter before it's too late!
8 yrsReport
