Cameroonian gov't destroys big stock of ivories in public

The Cameroonian government destroyed a big stock of ivories in public for the first time in history on Tuesday and showed its determination to fight against poaching.

The event took place in the capital Yaounde with the presence of Cameroonian Forest and Wildlife Minister Ngole Philip Ngwese and visiting U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Samantha Power.

Ngwese said at the function the ivory destroying program reflects the commitment of the Cameroonian government to "implement the provisions of the International Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) adopted in Washington on March 3, 1973."

"This is the first phase of the program," the minister said, listing the measures taken to fight against poaching.

According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), at least 150 elephants were killed every year since 2012 in Cameroon.

The approximately 2,000 tusks and 1,753 art objects from tusks destroyed by incineration Tuesday are forfeited from poachers and craftsmen in different actions by Ministry of Forests and Wildlife.

Power welcomed the gesture to destroy ivories by the Cameroonian government. She emphasised the importance for strengthening international cooperation in fighting against poaching in the countries like Cameroon which saw the number of elephants decreased in the last few years.

According to WWF, Cameroon has joined the growing list of African countries that have publicly destroyed the illegal ivory stocks, such as Chad, Gabon, Ethiopia, Malawi, Kenya and Mozambique. Enditem