US Government to Crush Six Tons of Illegal Ivory

In an effort to combat the commercial trade of illegal wildlife products, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will crush six tons of illegal ivory, including tusks and artwork, at the National Wildlife Property Repository on November 14, reports The New York Times. Currently, the US is one of the largest consumers of elephant tusks, rhinoceros horns, and tiger blood. President Obama has assembled a task force to stop the trafficking of these wildlife products and has also allocated $10 million to help stop poaching in Africa. “By destroying our domestic stocks of ivory, we send a very clear signal that these illegally traded products should not be perceived as items of value,” says Robert G. Dreher, acting assistant attorney general for the environment and natural resources. Other countries that have destroyed illegal ivory include the Philippines, Kenya, and Gabon.