PHOTOS: Malawi Government Destroys Ivory Worth $7.5Million.

MALAWI: Malawi government has destroyed a stockpile of ivory worthy $7.5M after succumbing to pressure from international organisations after the wildlife authorities were ordered to destroy the ivory .

The stockpile was this morning set on fire in Mzuzu before court officials, police, government officials as well as local and international activists fighting against wildlife crime. The stockpile was set alight outside a nature sanctuary in the small northern city of Mzuzu, 480Km from the administrative capital Lilongwe.

Malawi President Peter Mutharika said that destroying the ivory, which was the world’s most expensive bonfire was intended to serve as a gesture demonstrating his government’s commitment to the fight against wildlife crime. Tanzania had succeeded in delaying the burning since September, but a court in Malawi this month ordered wildlife authorities to publicly destroy the 781 pieces of ivory valued at nearly $3 million (2.7 million euros)

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Unconfirmed estimates claim that over 20,000 elephants are killed a year across Malawi and its 3 neighbouring countries. Its however estimated that a majority of people backed the decision to have the ivory sold rather than set on fire. Malawi is widely considered a weak link in the fight against illegal ivory trade due to graft, weak wildlife legislation and poor law enforcement.

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Ivory is highly sought for jewellery and decorative objects and much of it is smuggled to China and Thailand, where many wealthy shoppers buy ivory trinkets as a sign of financial success.