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France: Seized Ivory Destroyed France: Seized Ivory Destroyed
(about 3 hours later)
In an effort to deter poachers and traffickers, France publicly destroyed a stock of about three tons of confiscated ivory from the tusks of African elephants on Thursday, making it the first European country to take such a step. The ivory was crushed in a large machine at a ceremony, right, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower presided over by Environment Minister Philippe Martin. The impounded ivory included 698 elephant tusks that the police had confiscated and stockpiled since the 1990s. The operation was part of President François Hollande’s plan to “send a clear and precise message” against poachers, traffickers and buyers and “to show the French government’s solidarity to African countries,” the Environment Ministry said. The United States and China, ivory’s biggest market, have also destroyed seized ivory to help stem the illicit trade that endangers the survival of the elephants. In an effort to deter poachers and traffickers, France publicly destroyed a stock of about three tons of confiscated ivory from the tusks of African elephants on Thursday, making it the first European country to take such a step. The ivory was crushed in a large machine at a ceremony at the foot of the Eiffel Tower presided over by Environment Minister Philippe Martin. The impounded ivory included 698 elephant tusks that the police had confiscated and stockpiled since the 1990s. The operation was part of President François Hollande’s plan to “send a clear and precise message” against poachers, traffickers and buyers and “to show the French government’s solidarity to African countries,” the Environment Ministry said. The United States and China, ivory’s biggest market, have also destroyed seized ivory to help stem the illicit trade that endangers the survival of the elephants.