Cameroon burn over 6 tons of seized elephant ivories

Cameroon on Tuesday burnt more than six tons of ivory seized from poachers.

The exercise was a first in the central African country.

In all, some 2,000 elephant tusks weighing 3,510 tons and 1,753 art and craft weighing a total of 2,613 tons were burnt.

2,000 elephant tusks set on fire in Cameroon to show country’s commitment to fight poaching. https://t.co/6ec3J5zGWEhttps://t.co/mHS021B9zI

— ABC News (@ABC) April 20, 2016

“Cameroon has signed three cooperation agreements with neighboring states to stand together against cross-border poaching,” Minister in charge of wildlife, Ngole Philip Ngwese said.

It’s been said that more than 1,000 eco-guards have been deployed in the most exposed areas to poaching this year with some 2,000 weapons also seized.

The country stepped up the fight against poaching and ivory trafficking after a major massacre occurred in 2012.

African countries including Kenya often carry out public burning of seized tusks.

More than 30,000 elephants are killed annually in Africa.