Crush and burn: Malaysia destroys huge ivory trove

A Malaysian wildlife official holds a confiscated elephant ivory tusk from Africa before destroying the ivory in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan. - EPA pix

PORT DICKSON: Malaysia on Thursday destroyed 9.5 tonnes of elephant ivory it had seized over the years, which authorities hope will help deter smugglers who have long used the country as a trans-shipment point.  

The huge pile of African elephant tusks, estimated to be worth US$20mil, was first fed into in an industrial crusher to be pulverised, and then incinerated in a giant furnace in Port Dickson in southern Malaysia.