Cameroon Officials Torch 2,000 Poached Elephant Tusks

by
posted on April 20, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
tusks.jpg

According to the Associated Press, authorities in Cameroon burned 2,000 poached elephant tusks and other ivory goods near the capitol yesterday in what is likely the largest burning of poached wildlife goods in African history. Joining Cameroonian officials to light the match was America's own U.N. ambassador, Samantha Powers. Yet while they touted the ceremony as being symbolic of winning the war against illegal smuggling of animal products, central Africa's forest elephant population has steadily declined, dropping by two-thirds between 2002-2012.

"The burning sends a clear message, Powers said, "that the only place ivory belongs and the only value ivory has is on elephants."

Cameroonian officials claim the confiscated tusks alone weighed as much as 3.5 tons and that merchandise was worth millions of dollars. As noted in the article, ivory-burning ceremonies cause some to wonder why the valuable tusks aren't reused in some capacity given that the elephants were already poached. Nevertheless, the United States conducted it's own ivory-destruction ceremonies in 2013 and 2015.

Philip Ngole Ngwese, Cameroon's minister of forestry and wildlife, said the seized tusks and ivory were now "beyond reach." He also described the human costs of poaching, mourning several guides and park rangers who have been killed in recent years.

For the full article, click here

Latest

W H2026 09 Knowhow 6.8Set9.25.4
W H2026 09 Knowhow 6.8Set9.25.4

Things I’ve Learned About Public-Land Elk

Every generation has a story starting with, “I remember the good old days.” Elk hunters have a similar dialogue and although elk numbers are at some of their highest in modern history, public-land hunting still represents a sea of challenges. With decades of elk hunting in my rearview and an ongoing education, a few lessons I’ve learned from elk hunting may aid you in your public-land elk pursuits.

Colorado Ballot Battle Heats Up

The required number of valid signatures to put a “Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment” on Colorado’s Nov. 3 ballot was reached on Sept. 4. If approved by voters—according to Ballotpedia’s summary—it would add the “…right to hunt, fish, and take fish and wildlife through traditional methods” to the state constitution.

#SundayGunday: CZ 600+ ST3 American

On this week's #SundayGunday, we are taking a look at the new-for-2026 design of the CZ 600+ ST3 American, the ST3 being the long- and magnum-action model. Built by the legendary Czech company for the American market, this is a rifle adapted perfectly to hunting on this continent.

How Can Hunters Travel Out of State With Suppressed Firearms?

Getting federal and state agencies out of the way of the citizens who wish to use suppressors to make their guns more polite to their ears and to their neighbors’ is an ongoing, complex and multifaceted effort. There is, however, progress being made thanks to the Trump administration.

A Shared Memory Between Life’s Chapters

Check out this memorable hunting story from member William Scott Aldridge.

Hardware Review: Browning BAR MK 4 Hunter

First, the Browning Automatic Rifle addressed in this article is not the renowned 1918 BAR of military fame. I’ve actually seen an American Rifleman editor hunt hogs with a reproduction 1918 BAR. While it was a spectacle to behold, it’s probably not the optimal choice for the deer woods, but hey, who am I to judge? The Browning BAR we’re talking about in this article is the iconic hunting rifle.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.