Since 2000, Hong Kong customs have seized approximately 33 tonnes of illegal ivory (28.86 tonnes of which have been reported to the global Elephant Trade Information System database (ETIS)). Furthermore, ETIS data show that nearly six tonnes of ivory were seized in other countries en route to Hong Kong, while 2.87 tonnes of ivory were seized overseas after leaving Hong Kong. These figures mean that Hong Kong is ranked fifth globally in terms of the quantity of ivory seized; highlighting its importance as a major transit hub as well as an end-use market.

The incineration of 28 tonnes of ivory will be the largest amount of such contraband ever destroyed anywhere in the world, dwarfing the recent ivory destruction events that have taken place elsewhere, including the US and mainland China.

Cheryl Lo, a conservation specialist at WWF-Hong Kong, relates that “We appreciate the government’s strong action, and we also recognize that destroying ivory is only one of a suite of enforcement actions that need to be taken by any country implicated in ivory trafficking.”  WWF and TRAFFIC are now calling on the Hong Kong government to:

·            Ensure tighter monitoring and control over the legality of ivory sold on the local market.
·     Conduct independent audits of any stocks to be destroyed, to ensure the amount that is actually destroyed corresponds to the amount publicly stated. This will allow Hong Kong to become a global role model for accountability and transparency.  

Dr Yannick Kuehl, TRAFFIC’s Regional Director, East & South Asia said “This remarkable ivory destruction event should be followed up by actions which ensure that Hong Kong complies with international commitments under CITES. The latest law enforcement techniques need to be brought to bear on this issue, including forensic examination of seizures, profiling of criminal activity and targeting of cargos from high-risk countries.”

WWF and TRAFFIC are also urging Hong Kong consumers to stop purchasing any ivory products, given that Hong Kong’s regulatory system still needs to be strengthened, Recent figures show that the population of African elephants dropped from three to five million in the early 1900s to around 500,000 today. Approximately 22,000 elephants are being killed each year. The population of Asian elephants also dropped – from 100,000 in the early 1900s to less than 50,000 today. This fall has led to the Asian elephant being classified as Endangered by the IUCN since 1986.

The destruction of this ivory stockpile is a strong public statement by the Hong Kong government, showing that it will not tolerate the toll illegal ivory trade has taken on elephant populations. While this statement is welcome, the effective protection of the world’s elephants requires multiple measures to be taken by everyone: consumers, law enforcement officials and authorities in transit and range states.  Actions needed include:

· Strengthening anti-poaching initiatives through training rangers and providing better equipment;
·  Monitoring illegal trade and identifying trade routes and countries;
·    Protecting elephant habitats and mitigating human-elephant conflicts; and
·     Reducing consumer demand for ivory products.