Gov’t Burns2000 Elephant Tusks To Discourage Poaching

Government, April 22, 2016 at the Yaounde Conference Centre burnt some 2000 elephant tusks and 1,753 objects made of ivory in a bid to curb poaching and all illegal trade in ivory products in and out of the country.According to statistics, an average of 30,000 elephants is killed yearly in Africa by traffickers who smuggle the tusks into Asia and China.
By Anu Nkeze Paul
The destruction of the ivory was witnessed among others by the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), Ngole Philip Ngwese,the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power.
The presence of America diplomats at the burning ceremony was to remind other authorities that the exercise is out to dismantle criminal networks of poachers and traffickers.
According to NgoleNgwese, President Biya ordered the burning of the tusks in a bid to send a clear message to all dealers in ivory that henceforth the government will not relentits efforts to track any poacher and punish them.
The Minister underscored the importance of the burning exercise to the protection of elephant species which are under threats of extinction.
The pile of elephant tusks and finished ivory products, which were seized from wildlife traffickers across the country, were estimated at over 2 billion francs CFA. In the past years, over 1000 eco-guards have been deployed to protected areas prone to poaching, just to ensure the protection of endanger species, said the Forestry Minister.
The Minister added that Cameroon has ratified all agreements with neighbouring countries to establish a common front against cross-border poaching.
The ceremony ended with a press conference where wildlife officials were called to double efforts in combating illegal trade in protected and endangered wildlife species.