Thailand destroys ivory stockpile

AFP, BANGKOK: Thailand destroyed more than two tonnes of ivory Wednesday—a victory for animal rights groups fighting against the trade in a country renowned for being a hub for illegal tusks.
The ceremony, in which 2,155 kilograms of raw tusks and carved trinkets were fed into an industrial rock crusher before being incinerated, was presided over by the Thai junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha and is the first time the kingdom has taken steps to destroy part of its stockpile.
“This is to show the Thai government’s strong determination to oppose ivory trafficking and that Thailand will comply with international rules,” he said during the ceremony.
Animal rights campaigners have long accused successive Thai civilian and military administrations of turning a blind eye to the lucrative trade.
They have pushed for Bangkok to destroy its stockpile to signal its determination to stamp down on the trade and avoid the risk of seized ivory finding its way back onto the black market through corrupt officials.

Thailand destroys ivory stockpile

AFP, BANGKOK: Thailand destroyed more than two tonnes of ivory Wednesdaya victory for animal rights groups fighting against the trade in a country renowned for being a hub for illegal tusks. The ceremony, in which 2,155 kilograms of raw tusks and carved trinkets were fed into an industrial rock crusher before being incinerated, was presided over by the Thai junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha and is the first time the kingdom has taken steps to destroy part of its stockpile. This is to show the Thai governments strong determination to oppose ivory trafficking and that Thailand will comply with international rules, he said during the ceremony. Animal rights campaigners have long accused successive Thai civilian and military administrations of turning a blind eye to the lucrative trade. They have pushed for Bangkok to destroy its stockpile to signal its determination to stamp down on the trade and avoid the risk of seized ivory finding its way back onto the black market through corrupt officials.