U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Destruction of Confiscated Elephant Ivory in Times Square: Questions and Answers

Why is the United States destroying ivory than we needed for these purposes elephant ivory? and decided to destroy that stockpile as We want to send a clear message that a demonstration of our commitment to the United States will not tolerate combating wildlife trafficking. ivory trafficking and is committed to protecting elephants from extinction. The Have other countries destroyed ivory toll these crimes are taking on elephant stockpiles? populations, particularly in Africa, is Yes. The following lists the governments at its worst in decades. The United and the year they destroyed ivory: States believes that it is important Kenya, 1989, 1991, 2011, 2015; Zambia, to destroy ivory seized as a result of 1992; United Arab Emirates, 1992, 2015; law enforcement investigations and at Gabon, 2012; Philippines, 2013; China, international ports of entry. Destroying 2014, 2015; Chad, 2014; France, 2014; this ivory tells criminals who engage in Belgium 2014; Hong Kong 2014; Ethiopia poaching and trafficking that the United 2015; and Congo, 2015. States will take all available measures to disrupt and prosecute those who prey Why doesn’t the Service sell the ivory? on, and profit from, the deaths of these The Service does not sell confiscated magnificent animals. wildlife or products derived from endangered and threatened species. Has the U.S. Government ever done this Illegal ivory trade is driving a dramatic before? increase in African elephant poaching, Yes. On November 14, 2013, at the U.S. Photo: Samples of seized ivory. Credit: USFWS threatening the very existence of Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) elephants in Africa. It is extremely National Wildlife Property Repository difficult to differentiate legally acquired on Rocky Mountain Arsenal National trade and agreed to crush approximately ivory from ivory derived from elephant Wildlife Refuge near Denver, Colorado, one ton of ivory that was confiscated poaching. Our criminal investigations and we destroyed our 6-ton stock of during a multi-year undercover operation anti-smuggling efforts have clearly shown confiscated elephant ivory in our first that resulted in 10 convictions. The last that legal ivory trade can serve as a ivory crush. The Service had never defendant in the case was sentenced in cover for illegal trade. Therefore, selling before destroyed large quantities of ivory. 2014. seized ivory and allowing it to enter the marketplace could mask trade in Our second ivory crush will take place Why isn’t ivory destroyed when it is seized? illegal ivory and contribute to increased on June 19, 2015, in Times Square, New In the United States, pieces of elephant elephant poaching. Similarly, seized York City, to destroy ivory from seizures ivory and other seized illegal wildlife ivory in African countries can also not be and cases that have been resolved since products are maintained as evidence until traded: the African elephant listing under 2013. criminal and civil cases are concluded. the Convention on International Trade Once cases are resolved, the Service in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna New York State Senator Brad Hoylman uses items that are examples of illegal and Flora (CITES), the treaty regulating requested the Service’s assistance to wildlife trade for educational purposes international trade in endangered host an ivory crush in New York City. and for training our law enforcement species, forbids seized ivory and ivory We believe this is a good opportunity to officers and detection dogs. In 2013, of unknown origin from entering raise awareness about the illegal ivory we had accumulated far more elephant international trade. Won’t destroying this ivory make elephant the United States, the African Elephant ivory rarer, thus driving up the cost and Conservation Act, or the Lacey Act. creating a greater incentive for poaching? Seized ivory would never be made How many dead elephants does this amount available to the market because it of ivory represent? is illegal to trade seized ivory. Its It is difficult to estimate this number destruction has no impact on the with any certainty. Using the standard overall supply and does not create estimate that on average, tusks from any incentive for poaching. By one elephant weigh 10 kilograms or 22 demonstrating our commitment to pounds, at least 90 elephants were killed combat poaching and illegal trade, for one ton of ivory. However, while and to arrest and prosecute people individual tusks can help us estimate the who engage in these activities, we number of dead elephants, 10 bracelets are providing a strong disincentive could represent one elephant or several. to poachers and wildlife trafficking In addition, as younger and younger networks around the world. elephants are killed, the tusk weight per elephant decreases, making the number Why did the Service decide to crush the of dead elephants likely to be even ivory instead of burning it? higher. The two crushes combined easily Ivory is very resistant to burning, represent at least 1,700 elephants. and typically still requires crushing to break it down into pieces small enough What is the value of this ivory? to be of no commercial value. Crushing Because this ivory was seized in from the beginning is thus more connection with violations of U.S. efficient for destroying ivory. Crushing conservation laws and regulations, it also eliminates air quality concerns and cannot legally be sold in the United fire risks that could be associated with States. We consider it to be contraband an ivory “burn”. that has no market value. Similarly, ivory that is seized in Africa has no commercial In the future, will the Service destroy value because under the current CITES forfeited ivory? African elephant listing, seized ivory and Yes. However, the Service will retain ivory of unknown origin cannot enter small amounts of ivory for use in Above: African elephant. international trade. conservation outreach and education Credit: Nick Turland CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 as well as for investigative and forensic What will be done with the ivory once it is purposes such as training our wildlife that was seized by agents from Gordon’s destroyed? law enforcement officers and detection Philadelphia store in April 2009. The ivory crushed in 2013 is still secured dogs, and for partner law enforcement by the Service. In 2014, the Service agencies (such as U.S. Customs and The ivory crushed in 2013 was seized and launched a “Crushed Ivory Design Border Protection). We look forward to forfeited to the Service as a result of the Challenge” calling on the public to a time when no one will purchase ivory, Service’s criminal investigations and anti- submit ideas for a compelling, thought the poaching and illegal trade ends, and smuggling efforts between the late 1980s provoking, and informative display to ivory remains where it belongs, on live and our first ivory crush on November 14, increase awareness about the threats elephants. 2013. that poaching and illegal trade pose to elephants and other at-risk species. Our About the Ivory: What types of crimes were committed in goal is to use the crushed ivory to raise connection with these seizures? awareness, reduce the demand for illegal How much elephant ivory will be destroyed? The ivory to be crushed in New York’s wildlife products, and ultimately protect The Service will destroy approximately Times Square was mostly seized from the wildlife from senseless killing and illegal one ton of elephant ivory. The ivory to United States vs. Victor Gordon case. trade. The Design Challenge closed on be destroyed includes full tusks, carved March 31, 2015, and submissions are tusks, hundreds of smaller carvings, and The ivory crushed in 2013 was confiscated currently under review by a panel of other objects. for violations of various laws and experts. The ivory crushed in Times regulations. Some was smuggled into Square will remain secured by the How did the Service acquire this ivory? the United States in large quantities; Service and will be added to the ivory The vast majority of the ivory to be intercepted on its way out of the country crushed in 2013 for use in the Design crushed was seized by Service agents or being unlawfully sold in interstate Challenge. from a Philadelphia store in 2009. On commerce; arrived in the United States June 4, 2014, Victor Gordon, the store’s without the appropriate permits; or was owner, was sentenced to 30 months’ brought back by travelers who did not U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service imprisonment, to be followed by 2 years know about (or did not follow) wildlife Office of Law Enforcement of supervised release, for smuggling laws and regulations. 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: LE-3000 elephant ivory into the United States. Falls Church, VA 22041 As part of that sentence, the court Laws violated in connection with e-mail: [email protected] ordered Gordon to pay a fine of $7,500 ivory seizures usually include the http://www.fws.gov/le/ and to forfeit $150,000, along with the Endangered Species Act, which is the approximately one ton of elephant ivory implementing legislation for CITES in June 2015