The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) expressed their great concern over Hong Kong customs' seizure of 3.9-ton illegal shipment of 600 ivory tusks of African elephants.

 

IFAW Conservationists said it is an essential way to ban the ivory trade in order to save the endangered species.

 

 

Hong Kong customs announced on May 10 that a 3.9-ton (8,580-pound) illegal shipment of 600 ivory tusks from endangered African elephants was discovered as the largest seizure in Hong Kong since the international trade of ivory was banned in 1989.

 

"While we applaud the Hong Kong customs officers who made this discovery," said Dr. Aster Zhang, IFAW China director, "We do get shocked over the massive illegal ivory hauls of this size despite the ivory trade ban."

 

"Though many countries have made great efforts in fighting against illegal trade and poaching on ivory, the result is far from satisfactory as illegal trade is still quite rampant," he said.

 

"This times big haul serves as an example," he added.

 

He said he thinks that to end the trade in elephant ivory once and for all is an effective way to protect the elephant.

 

The total number of African elephant has declined sharply from 1990s' 1.2 million to present no more than 0.6 million, with nearly 4,000 elephants are killed each day.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2006)