WASHINGTON, D.C. - At the White House Forum to Counter Wildlife Trafficking, the U.S. Administration committed to destroying stockpiles of six tons of seized elephant ivory housed in Denver, Colorado on October 8, 2013. The elephant ivory has been confiscated by U.S. officials over the last 25 years, and will be crushed to bring attention to the devastating impacts of the illegal trade and to help fight wildlife trafficking.
In response, international campaigning organization the Environmental Investigation Agency issued the following statement.
“As one of the largest consumers of elephant ivory products in the world, we are heartened to see the United States taking a stand to protect elephants," said Allan Thornton, president of EIA. “Committing to destroy the United States ivory stockpile sends a strong signal to both American consumers and other nations that purchasing ivory trinkets is unacceptable, and leads to the poaching of 30,000 elephants each year.