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February 8, 2014

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Campaign targets gifts of ivory

Non-profit animal welfare organization International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is running a campaign to discourage the giving of ivory gifts during the holidays, including Spring Festival and Valentine’s Day. 

An ad featuring a mother elephant and her baby has appeared on large billboards atop 27 downtown buildings in nine major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in Guangdong Province. A pair of handcuffs, half of it made of ivory, is also featured in the ad, linking the buyers of ivory gifts to harm done to the species.

The campaign also went online to collect wishes from netizens to raise awareness of protecting the species. The campaign runs through the Valentine’s Day.

Festivals mean gift-giving, which increases purchases of wildlife products, said IFAW. Ivory traditionally has been a favorite festive gift in China.

“Through the campaign, we hope to deliver the message that only with the existence of elephants will nature remain biodiversified. Only with wildlife will the Earth be a harmonious place that ensures the long-term survival of human beings,” said Grace Ge Gabriel, Asia regional director for IFAW. “Say no to ivory, and let the elephants enjoy a safe festival.”

China has ramped up protection of wildlife, recently announcing that dishes made of shark fin, bird’s nests and other wildlife products are barred from official banquets.

More than six tons of confiscated ivory were destroyed on January 6 in Dongguan, Guangdong Province. Soon after, Hong Kong said it would burn 28 tons of ivory seized from smugglers in the world’s largest such operation. Just days before the Spring Festival, Shanghai Customs reported that a total of 67.2 kilograms of ivory had been seized during the first month of 2014.




 

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