Ivory stockpile crushed in Tervuren

More than one and a half tonnes of illegal ivory was pulverised at the Colonial Palace of the Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, on April 9. The destruction of the ivory, which took place in the presence of the Minister of Health and Social Affairs Laurette Onkelinx and Mayor of Tervuren Jan Spooren, was intended to send out a message about Belgium’s stance on elephant poaching and ivory smuggling.

“By this act of destruction, we want to spread a message of hope and solidarity,” said Onkelinx. “The hope that our combined forces will help to perpetuate the survival of one of the oldest species of our universal heritage. And solidarity with countries that struggle daily against those responsible" for the poaching and smuggling .

Customs authorities have regularly seized illegal ivory at Zaventem airport for the last 25 years, most of it coming from African countries, in particular DR Congo. The ivory is intended mainly for the Asian market, said Miet Van Looy, director of the CITES authority, which has been regulating trade in endangered animals and plant species in Belgium since 1984.