US to destroy 6-ton stockpile of illegal ivory this week

[Ohio Joe]

n a first, U.S. officials are going to destroy their massive stockpile of illegal ivory this week, hoping to send a zero-tolerance message to elephant poachers.

On Thursday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will pulverize nearly 6 tons (5.4 tonnes) of illegal ivory items, from whole tusks to tiny trinkets, which have been seized over the past 25 years as a result of smuggling busts and criminal investigations.

The ivory crush will take place at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City, Colo., just outside of Denver.

Seized ivory is typically kept as evidence until criminal cases are over. After that, the objects can be used to educate the public and train law enforcement officials. But FWS officials say that since the 1980s they have collected far more ivory than they need to fulfill those purposes. Thursday's event will mark the first time such a large amount of ivory is being destroyed in the United States.

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/us-destroy-6-ton-stockpile-illegal-ivory-week-2D11577322

You know... I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this. I guess I understand the reasoning behind it but it still does not 'feel' like the right thing to be doing.... I don't know, put it all in a museum or something? Destroying it just seems wrong.

[northoftheborder]

1. If any of it is art work, seems it should go in a museum.

[warrior1]

2. weep for the elephants

I would have buried the ivory and cover with concrete and create a memorial to the elephants that loss their lives to greed.

[Ohio Joe]

7. I like that thought...

A monument with all of the ivory buried underneath... That would be far more fitting.

[Blue_Tires]

12. I'd worry that some madman somewhere will try to dig it up

even if he has to bring in the heavy vehicles...

[Stinky The Clown]

3. I agree with you.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. I'm with you re

I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this.

It seems to me that all this art could have been donated. It's kind of like the elephants died in vain twice. They're dead anyway, and destroying the artwork does nothing to bring them back.

[geek tragedy]

5. Pulverize it. How would we feel about the skulls of humans being used as art

after they had been beheaded just to obtain those skulls?

The message needs to be: nothing good can come from poaching elephants. Nothing.

[Whisp]

6. I think this is the right thing to do.

It's the most respectful towards the elephants.

No one should benefit from their suffering - not even museums.

[joeybee12]

8. No problem whatsoever with this..art from intentional suffering and death?

It's not art.

[kentuck]

9. Supply and demand.

That will only create a bigger shortage which will create a bigger demand. I don't see it as a productive event.

[Dreamer Tatum]

10. Yes, restricting the supply should discourage all producers. nt

[JI7]

11. i think it could be the right thing to do because as long as it exists people will

continue to kill and buy and sell it.

but if they know it can easily be destroyed people may be less willing to buy it and therefore less people to kill and sell it.