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Dale De La Rey / AFP - Getty Images
Ivory tusks seized during an anti-smuggling operation are displayed during a Hong Kong Customs press conference Saturday.
Hong Kong Customs announced Saturday that it had found 1,209 elephant tusks smuggled in two shipping containers from Kenya and Tanzania. Seven people were arrested in what customs said was the biggest such bust in Hong Kong history.
The tusks, valued at $3.4 million, are used for making ivory ornaments. A single tusk can fetch thousands of dollars on the black market.
Most large seizures of illicit ivory from Africa have originated from either Kenyan or Tanzanian ports.
Large-scale seizures have gone up in recent years -- 13 in 2011, compared to 6 in 2010.
A 1989 ban on the ivory trade helped elephant populations increase, but an analysis of data from 1979 to 2007 found that some of the 37 countries in Africa with elephants continued to lose substantial numbers of them.
Related: Religious leaders organize to stop ivory trade
About 450,000 elephants roam Africa today. In 1930, the number was estimated to be between 5 million to 10 million African elephants.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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This is a International Disgrace, China should be Boycotted...
That includes Walmart
"That includes Walmart."
funny.
He was speaking rhetorically, something you apparently do not understand.
It is too bad that they did not catch the people responsible sooner. Those 1209 tusks represent at least 605 dead elephants, and likely more. This is a disgrace and more must be done to stop this slaughter of elephants. I think that any elephant poachers that a caught should simply be shot on sight.
We need public executions! Not just those caught in the field poaching but those receiving those items!
Shot on sight? Well so much for that American belief in due process and rule of law.
Public executions? Is your pay per view really that dull, you want to watch people getting killed?
Thankfully it's not in America, and they are not Americans. I say let the rangers fire away. Or you start tainting the tusks and horns with something that kills when consumed, no matter how small a portion. Then you make it known throughout Asia that you did so and that if you eat powdered horn, or tiger penis in some retarded attempt to become virile or younger, you'll just simply die, painfully, loudly and messily.
The Communist Chinese Government has its own junk haven around the world as COSCO...direct to the USA and their shipping containers: are not inspected and go underground at Long Beach: thank the gutless druggie hippie draft dodger--Slick Willie and his beastly ACLU spouse...whom have been rewarded for their USA Giveaway; as Rhoades Scholars...and COmmunist Manifesto Planners of NWO!
Oh, the Communist Chinese also put baby bear cubs into cages: never release them--and they grow into the bars while the EVIL extracts bile from their livers....imagine being able to think of that let alone being that--as for something 2 legged which can actually continue to repeat such barbaric acts...
And to whom we owe and are owned: all the while the Communist Chinese Government ships its JUNK poisoned too and poisoning us...as we speak: our monitzed printed debt dollars...guaranteed bankruptcy: gives them all the support in the world to continue unfettered to do what they d m well deem ...theirs...all while building up their billion person Military--AFFIRM that each person from the onset to shipping to being aware to turning the other way will find themselves looking in the mirror seeing the blood and eyes of the elephants and the crying nursing babies: and that they will find themselves in eternal HELL becoming what they have done unto the elephants--GOD our Creators' creatures whom resided in peace until 2 -legged scum began their reign of terror and destruction; overpopulation and greed on Planet Earth..
We become what we have done and we get it all right back-but for an eternity......
Do Unto Others As You WOuld Have Them Do Unto YOU...
I absolutely agree. The reason that there has been such an increase in poaching is due to the demand. The demand is greater due to the amount of people in China we are making rich buying their cheap crap.
While shooting the people might give one the visceral emotion sought, it would not give the example and message needed that a long term example and symbol does. People forget about a criminal dying quickly in today's world of so much death and destruction.;Greed and profit will always win out, no matter the risk. If those who make their living like this find themselves in jail for years, it is a much more fitting punishment. For they must suffer longer. Death is too quick.Think of how many baby elephants lost parents because when one was targeted, the other tried to defend it. Then the baby dies.
Actually showing those who engage in this practice that there are severe consequences for everyone involved, from those who kill the elephants, those who ship it, to those who end up producing the products, and the buyers. The message is clear, this is intolerable and EVERYONE involved will have the book thrown at them. So expect stiff prison terms and fines.This problem needs tackling at all points.
In addition, villagers who might be tempted to get poach because of poverty, are discovering that with tourists coming to see elephants and other wild life, they can earn a better living by preserving and protecting the elephants, instead of going along with those attempting to harvest the ivory by taking away a natural resource the natives have which can be profitable and help sustain them, if kept alive. So preserves are running programs with more successful results by increasing more elephant lives saved. Being encouraged and watched over by natives themselves.
Am I the only one who is WAY more outraged about this than about someone mistakenly 9or maybe not) being placed on the Do Not Fly list?
Windancersong: nice sentiment and it would work if you were talking about decent human beings. You're not though. You're talking about filth hiding behind a human's body. And if you gut em and hang them out of a tree around their villages I suspect they won't forget about it quite so quickly.
Over 600 Elephants, that breaks my heart
Greed is not good; it is disgusting. The lengths that humans will go to for money is astounding. Stories like these make you wonder: How can the planet survive with behavior like this?
And now that they have had their 15 seconds of fame the tusks will continue on to become carved relics the chinese can sell back to the people who killed the elephants.
You can bet they will find a reason not to destroy them. The first one is corruption.
How ignorant,,you must be a Union supporter or of little education...Walmart does not sell Elephant products nor are they allowed in the United States...What you should be outraged with is that all the Liberal Social Groups who allegedly supply Millions of dollars to Africa every year have done absolutely nothing to change the economy and the social life style of the people who receive this free money over the past 30 years except make the Administrators and professional Fund Raisers rich....Why should the people of Africa change when these Liberal groups actually support this kind of slaughter by paying them not to do it,,So they have learned that one good publicity shot like this, will cause the Liberals to shower them with money again in an attempt to stop it....Just like the Liberal Demoncrat created Social Welfare programs in the Untied States...no difference same results.
Thanks Hong Kong for the bust and I mean that sincerely.
It's too late for the elephants. It's too bad our great grandchildren will only see such regal animals in books.
The massive killing of animals in Africa is catastrophic and can not be tolerated by any civilized country in the world. We spend trillions of dollars and many lives to help people that don't want our help. We can't, and I mean countries around the world, can't put a stop to this violence and lack of humanity.
We are constantly told how intelligent the asians are over westerners. this just proves they are just as ignorant, if not more so.
Agreed 100% come to think of it I have never met a smart Asian, but I have met some really cruel, greedy, stupid one's. Not trying to be bigoted, just what my experience has been.
That said, destroy the tusks and execute everyone involved that can be tracked down.
Asians don't give a sh.t about any kind of life, they will kill anything for money.
Not more intelligent, more like hard working since their living condition is much tougher than those in western sides.
I lived in Vietnam and there are plenty of stupid people there, some would step on others to get what they want just like here in US. During my school day, I found out that those who actually study hard and is considered smart are those with really poor family.
To all you ignorant bigoted people commenting.
Right. All Asians are stupid. I guess you've me "a lot" of Asians? I hope people from other countries don't judge all Americans based on meeting you.
That's why a Japanese scientisit received the Nobel Prize for his work with stem cells. sorry, unfrortunately, though the U.S. has some of the best universities in the world we're still behind in academic ability when compared on the high school level. We need to change that.
They all hate animals. That's why the most popular cat on the net is a Japanese cat named Maru. That's why an animals rights group in China has a petition calling for animal preotection laws in China which they ask you to send to the Chinese consulate in your conutry with a link to all the consulates. That's why this same animal groups has been active in disrupting the trade in cats (yes, cute little kitty cat- which some Chinese still eat). They have rescued cats more than once by calling all cat lovers to show up at the location where they cats are going to be transported, risking personal injury as the police were slow to arrest the cat traffickers(thugs) who pay people to catnap domestic cats and then cram so many cats into metal cages that some end up dead.
see careforchineseanimals.net
stop being so ignorant and you're in denial if you think you're not a bigot.
Antistupidity? The irony isn't lost on me. You should adhere to your namesake and kill yourself. The national average iq will increase substantially
thank YOU Star, Hmm_Seriously, and please accept my apologies, NguyenCoung. How humiliating to share a nationality with this bigoted, ignorant garbage. I would love to be surrounded by your gentle intelligent people rather than live down the block from these interbred oafs. Please excuse them. Their parents were closely related well before marrying each other.
@ antistupidity... yet asians are dominating you white folks academically even in the US.. look at universities and tell me what you see you idiot
Sad how the Earth is being exploited by humans............
Kill the animals and Plant life = Killing yourself !
What critical function do elephants provide to the ecosystem? They eat plants (control plant populations I suppose) and crap (fertilizing plant populations). Both of which HUMANS CAN DO BETTER then the elephants. They aren't bees that pollinate plants in a way that is WAY MORE EFFICIENT than humans can. They do not provide food for other animals because they have NO NATURAL PREDATORS. If anything their biggest contribution to the world is the amount of gas that comes out of their posterior that just so happens to be a wonderful greenhouse gas. So what do these wonderous animals bring to the table in the way you say "Kill the animals and Plant life = Killing yourself !"?
1. The foliage they eat contains seeds, and when then "crap" they drop the seeds with the fertilizer to spread the growth of, and seed new forests which in turn provides habitat for other parts of the ecosystem.
2.During dry season they dig for water with their trunks which in turn leaves watering holes for other animals.
Shall we continue with 6th grade science class?
They also destroy brush. Which would be a great thing in the south-west dry areas of our country if they was reintroduced. Elephants are a very important role in Africa's ecosystem and the way the landscape is and use to be in North Americas 13,000 years ago.
What critical function do humans provide to the ecosystem? 7 billions and the productive one are less than 5%. Humans only know 2 things, consume and destroy.
If the Earth is a living thing, then humans are the worst virus ever created.
“If the Earth is a living thing, then humans are the worst virus ever created.”
Well feel free to “cure” yourself anytime
@Losmuertos
That would be one less productive member and self-destructive. Humans seem to be doing well without the Earth's intervention with all the tension building up for wars.
Also, I at least attempt to co-exist with the Earth, unlike so many who out there.
No sence; your handle pretty much sums it up. I guess you couldn't spell sense right?
Losmuertos, I suppose you think that was really witty? Idiot. And our friend Cuong is correct again...the earth would fare PERFECTLY WELL without humans. What do WE do to help the cycle of life along? Breed more idiots like you and nosence?
And incidently, nosence, for your information they most certainly do feed predator species. You know, kind of like you sound to be: Ignorant, mindless, offal-eating scavengers?
When we hang the poachers by the guts outside their villages, we should just do you guys too. Except I'm willing to bet then no one WOULD notice.
Adela-884556
Ah personal insults already, did I strike a nerve? Well to bad, as I wrote that because I’m getting real tired of hypocrites like you who lament on the size of the human race, complain how it’s destroying the planet and say how we should practice population control, and yet would get angry when someone asks you to put your money where your mouth is and subject your selves to your ideas. After all let’s face it according to people like you, the human race is a virus but your not your an exception (rolls eyes)
When Al Shabaab isn't killing civilians or bombing Christian churches, they're out elephant hunting.
All the "Made in China" stuff Americans buy---whether it is the "i-phones", "i-pads", or even the cheap stuff at Walmart---is giving the Chinese money to buy animal parts. These animal parts are used for decorative objects, as is the case in ivory. The Chinese use other animal parts ---especially from endangered wild animals---in their barbaric medicinal practices. I have cut down on the number of "Made in China" objects in my house. Who needs cheap and tacky Halloween and Christmas decorations? I am content having three pair of pants, three shirts, and one pair of shoes. I refuse to send any more dollars or cents to Red China. They will kill off all the wild animals on the planet, and after that, they will build up their war machine and "look around"...
That sounds great.I never buy from wal mart either
Shoot the smugglers, and pull their teeth and sell them on e-bay! Use the money to protect the elephants.
It's time to hunt the hunters. Rewards for dead hunters, not alive.
You are sick and twisted
Maybe we should help give Africa back to the wildlife and big game . . . and have organised Safari hunts for the poachers.
So you value animal life over human life? Thanks for clearing up how sick and twisted you are
ORB1043 - Good idea! Put me down for a poacher hunt!
As long as I can hunt the poacher poachers
no sence
Your name could not be more appropriate, hell you cant even spell sense right.
let's get our sights dialed in shooting at no sence. then we can call him "no loss"
Simple.Keep importing elephants to the west until we have viable poulations ourselves.Then they can slaughter them all they want,they are savages.
How about we just make some elephant farms and farm the ivory there. Ivory is a commodity and people love it. Unfortunate for the elephants I know. Too bad cows don't grow tusks like elephants do. So long as it is sustainable it should be acceptable.
So if you breed and I need a nice soft pair of gloves, maybe I can buy one of your kids? Hey you can have more. Please don't though.
Adela....
That would make them real "kid" gloves!
I think Wiseone hit the nail on its head. We created the China monster by our greed for cheap stuff. We not only destroyed our own manufacturing sector but paid the Chinese to do so. Now, try finding anything not 'Made in China' and good luck with that!
Well, guess you could start by pulling the seven smuggler's teeth out while their awake, with visegrips, if no information is "culled" form the heard and they are left gumming it through life then move on to their family members with the same technique.
Should yield a treasure trove of info. Once intelligence is collected wrap them up with chains and see if they can swim in the bay. Floaters get "rechained".
You are literally more cruel than the poachers. Congrats
Not even close, the poachers will drop the elephants the same way they do the rhino's and cut the tusks out while the animal is still alive and leave it there to bleed to death in excruciating pain.
Here's an idea. Poison the tusks and give them back to the smugglers.
Butcher all concerned. I prefer elephants over the likes of these felonious cowards. Some people deserve death. Don't forget the recipients.
First, you might want to pull their teeth one at time just to make a point.... Novocaine withheld, of course. An eye for and eye and ivory for ivory.
The elephant's gestation period is 22 months, the longest of any land animal. Replacing these stupidly slaughtered majestic mammals will take years.
BASTARDS! China is not totally to blame - it's the Africans that rape rape rape every person and thing in their own country. No death is too horrible for these scum creatures!
I think some people are missing the idea. Tusks belong on the elephants because they need it to defend against lions and other predators, move things and so on. An elephant without tusks is a sitting duck. It is not a commodity to be harvested commercially. In our greed for cheap stuff, we destroyed our own manufacturing sector and created the China monster which is devouring everything. China now wants a seat on the Arctic Council (even though it is no where near it) so they can push for claims as/when Arctic opens up. I have no doubt they will wipe the Arctic clean if given the opportunity.
I don't understand the fascination with ivory but I saw a program when I was a kid about how the park rangers would sometimes use tranquilizers to take down animals and actually saw off the horn of rhinos to prevent poachers from shooting them with a slug. I know it's not a perfect idea but why not try to push the poachers to use non-lethal harvesting methods? The animals sometimes break their tusks naturally and they can survive without them. The poachers are killing them anyway so I'm not sure an argument can be made that it would promote poaching any worse and having a traqu'd animal that might become food for the hyenas is better than a carcass.
China once AGAIN. The biggest threat to animal life on this planet is CHINA. Our (So our Government says) Ally.
Hmm are you stupid? look at what Americans are doing to the world... starting wars everywhere, polluting like madmen (hello exxon valdez and BP oil spills?), atrocious human rights record (slavery, Guantanamo bay etc etc).. America is by far the biggest threat to this planet and other animals.. so shut your ignorant redneck mouth and go back to your trailer.
While the tusks are mostly from Africa, the demand is not just from China. It is from around the world, like Japan, Vietnam, South Korea etc. Hong Kong is the place to process and sales. In fact, I saw many ivory objects all have prebanned tags. I wonder what it supposed mean. Elephants got killed more beause of the rush to stock the tusks before the banned.
take the poachers out, rip their teeth out, if they have any, then line them up and shoot them in the head.
Disgusting asians.
Warrren: disgusting Caucasians. Remember the buffalo? Wild Horses? Passenger Pigeons? The Thylocene? The Quagga? Virgin forests? Unpolluted lakes, streams, rivers and air? How do you like racist filth thrown back at you, especially when it bears a lot more logical merit than what you said? (forgive me, decent people of all races, this isn't directed at you. It's just trying to make a point about how ignorant this turd with fingers is)
Did you know there are a hell of a lot of people of European descent in the US and elsewhere that also buy this crap? I had a chiropractor some years back that had a fresh elephant tusk on display (not a broken or old one). I was horrified. I'd rather see a human hand in formaldehyde than that. At least you can figure the human lived.
aww Warren, you sad that asians are making more money than you are while you wallow in your trailer?
ivory is beautiful because it comes from the elephant, why can;t people wait until the elephant passes and then use the tusks?
Because the demand is far greater than supply. The rich Chinese like to flaunt their wealth with items made from ivory (chop sticks, key chains, mantel pieces...yes, these poor animals die horribly for 'trinkets') and they don't care.
you must be young and a liberal. these people are animals and could give a $hit about any person or animal or the environment.
BUY NOTHING FROM CHINA! DO NOT GO TO WALMART!
THE CHINESE ARE WRETCHED AND JUST AS BAD AS THE MUSLIMS!
THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO NO NO NO SOULS!
THE TRAFFICERS SHOULD SUFFER LONG AND HORRENOUS PUNISHMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The people who discovered and reported this are Chinese you idiot. Did you go off your meds?
and He will bring ruin to those ruining the earth.
Give 'em to Romney...he'll know what to do with them
just as i always said the oriental race is going to destroy the world and now that they have more money than every one else the process is just going to go faster. these tusks were not for the poor but they were for the rich orientals. they are still third world people and will always be and now there is nothing we can do about it. the environment and animals alike do not stand a chance with these selfish ignorant people in the world.
Sit down and shut up cracker. You're doing a much better job at destroying the earth and local species with your unending greed for hormone injected, genetically modified, environmentally toxic McDonalds hamburger beef you fatass.
LOL ralph.. you must be a stupid Caucasian... look at the countless wars you have started, the environmental mayhem you have caused (hmm Exxon Valdez and BP oil spills anyone?), and atrocious human rights record (slavery, Guantanamo bay etc etc).. i think you guys are doing a great job destroying our environment already