(Madrid) Spanish police seize ivory from 400 elephants

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02 Jul 2004 18:28:31 GMT

 

MADRID, July 2 (Reuters) - Spanish police have seized almost three

tonnes of poached African ivory, which experts estimate could have

caused the death of about 400 elephants.

 

The Madrid haul is the single biggest ever of carved ivory, Spain's

Civil Guard paramilitary force said in a statement on Friday.

 

Members of the Civil Guard's specialised environmental arm Seprona

started an investigation last year after confiscating 110 kg (240

pounds) of elephant hair, some of which had been turned into

jewellery.

 

They subsequently found 3.4 tonnes of raw and worked ivory in a store

in Madrid, whose owner had a licence to keep less than 500 kg, and

confiscated the 2.9-tonne surplus.

 

full story:

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L02648179.htm