Authorities displayed a pile of carvings, ornaments, and tusks, before destroying them.
AP Photo/Vincent Yu
The ivory was pulverized by two crushing machines. Tusks that were too long were first cut into smaller pieces before being placed into the crushing machines.
AP Photo/Vincent Yu
This was the country's first large-scale ivory destruction. It took place in Dongguan in southern Guangdong province, where much of the ivory trade is located.
AP Photo/Vincent Yu
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The ivory came from Africa in shipments intercepted by customs and from shops in China.
AP Photo/Vincent Yu
The increase in the ivory trade has dramatically decreased elephant populations.
AP Photo/Vincent Yu
In destroying the ivory stockpile, China is following what other countries have done, including the Philippines, Gabon, and the United States, as pressure has increased from activist groups.
AP Photo/Vincent Yu
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Authorities said the 6.1 metric tons of ivory destroyed was just a portion of the illegal ivory held by China. Although, no one will say how much ivory the country has in its stockpile.
AP Photo/Vincent Yu
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