15 May 2014: Hong Kong SAR has begun the destruction of 28 tons of illegal ivory, the world’s largest illegal ivory stockpile and more than every other country in history combined. John Scanlon, Secretary-General, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), delivered a statement on the occasion.

Scanlon stressed that, despite considerable efforts to combat wildlife crime, it remains a major problem worldwide, and the poaching of African elephants and the illegal trade in their ivory is one of the most destructive forms of wildlife crime, impacting people’s livelihoods. He noted that the ivory crush is a very public opportunity to send a message that illegally traded elephant ivory will never have any commercial value and the return on the “investment” will most likely be imprisonment, heavy fines, and seized assets. [CITES News]