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Illegal ivory stash destroyed

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China has destroyed 6.1 metric tons of elephant ivory seized over the years, hoping to send a zero-tolerance message to poachers.

The haul was crushed on Monday in Dongguan, Guangdong province - the first time the nation has destroyed confiscated elephant tusks.

"We want to send a clear message that China will not tolerate ivory trafficking," said Zhang Jianlong, deputy head of the State Forestry Administration, China's wildlife watchdog.

The forestry administration and the General Administration of Customs pulverized the illegal ivory items, worth about 200 million yuan ($33.04 million), at 3:30 pm. They ranged from elephant tusks to small products carved from ivory.

The tusks were cut into pieces before being placed in two pulverizers to be crushed into powder.

Wang Weisheng, an official at the forestry administration, said the remains will not be used for commercial purposes. Some will be sent to museums for exhibition and educational purposes, while the rest will be preserved by customs authorities.

Chunquan Zhu, country representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said confiscated elephant tusks are usually preserved after cases are concluded.

"These tusks, if sold, would be worth a huge amount of money," Zhu said. “The government’s decision to destroy them shows its determination to combat ivory smuggling and wildlife crime.”