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DR Congo authorities dismantle ivory trafficking network

Xinhua, April 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

An operation launched by Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) authorities has resulted in dismantling of an ivory trafficking network in Kinshasa, a statement from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said Wednesday.

"The seizure of 50 kg of ivory was carried out on April 16 in Kinshasa, after which two ivory traffickers were arrested," the statement from the wildlife conservation organization said.

"WWF congratulates DR Congo government and encourages it to continue with efforts to fight against ivory trafficking," the director for WWF in DR Congo, Bruno Perodeau, said.

He said different structures in DR Congo such as the police and the Congolese Institute for Conservation of Nature (ICCN) were the key partners of WWF in execution of its programs.

"It is because of their collaboration that we have been able to achieve good results. The program for implementation of the relevant law is on course and results show that in the near future, we shall be able to discourage elephant poachers in DR Congo," he continued.

In 1970, elephant population in DR Congo parks was over 200,000 but today, the number has been reduced by 15 times, while some animals like the rhinos are facing the threat of extinction. Enditem