BANGKOK — Thai authorities destroyed more than 2 tons of seized and smuggled ivory Wednesday, in the latest move by the government to avoid economic sanctions over the illicit trade.
Tusks from more than 200 dead African elephants and other items made from ivory, such as jewelry and statues, were spread across viewing tables before being crushed by a machine into small pieces that were to be incinerated later in the day.
“This event shows the international community that Thailand intends to tackle the illegal ivory trade,” said Nipol Chotiban, head of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
The United Nations body that tries to tackle the illegal ivory trade lists Thailand as the world’s second-biggest end-user market, behind China.