Hong Kong plans to burn the first part of its massive ivory stockpile next month in a high profile ceremony that the government hopes will promote conservation.
A source told the South China Morning Post that conservation officials will burn the first batch of illegal elephant tusks at the Tsing Yi chemical waste treatment plant as early as next month.
The government’s Endangered Species Advisory Committee voted to burn almost all of its 30-tonne stock of ivory in January.
Only 3 tonnes of ivory can be burned at one time and the ivory will be cut into smaller pieces to fit into the incinerator.
Overall, 28.5 tonnes of ivory will be burned while 1.6 tonnes will be kept for educational purposes.
Endangered Species Advisory Committee members said that they might want to invite a “conservation celebrity” like British primatologist Jane Goodall to attend the ceremony, the South China Morning Post reported.
Hong Kong is trying to fight its reputation as wildlife trafficking hub.
A year before January, the committee had voted against burning the stockpile, but feelings changed after mainland China and the US burned seized ivory.
Photo: World Wildlife Fund
