BELGIUM AND THE ILLEGAL IVORY TRADE 15:00
EVERY 15 MINUTES AN ELEPHANT IS KILLED FOR ITS IVORY
BELGIUM – IVORY GATEWAY BETWEEN AFRICA AND ASIA In 1986 a spectacular seizure of 10 tonnes of ivory was made at the port of Antwerp, proving that Belgium was an important transit point for ivory travelling from Africa to Asia. Today, large quantities of raw ivory flow directly from eastern Africa to Asia. Weekly, our customs officers seize ivory in the luggage of individuals coming from west or central Africa, transiting through Belgium, on their way to Asia.
BELGIUM BEJING
SHANGHAI CHAD GUINEA
NIGERIA CA REPUBLIC
BANGKOK
CAMEROON
SINGAPORE
DR CONGO
ILLEGAL TRADE Illegal ivory trade activity worldwide has more than doubled since 2007, and is now over three times larger than it was in 1998.
HANOI
2007
2013
1998
SEIZURES IN BELGIUM Since 1984, almost 14,000 items have been seized in Belgium, for the most part at Zaventem Airport. This represents a total of 4.5 tonnes.
MORE THAN 1,500 KG OF IVORY WILL BE DESTROYED ON APRIL 9TH, 2014
THE TOP 5 ORIGIN COUNTRIES for seized ivory (in kilos): Democratic Republic of Congo (almost half), Burundi, Gabon, Mali, Congo.
The entire ivory stockpile will not be destroyed. Some will be kept as part of judicial proceedings. Other ivory will be kept for museums and training customs officers.
1.5+ TONNE
IVORY TAKES MANY DIFFERENT FORMS HANKO SEALS
TUSKS PIECES
CHOPSTICKS JEWELLERY
CARVINGS
EVERY PIECE OF IVORY COMES FROM A DEAD ELEPHANT