Hong Kong begins war on illegal ivory trade with massive fire

Nearly 30 tonnes of stockpiled confiscated ivory is to be incinerated in Hong Kong to show the authorities are serious about cracking down on the illegal trade.

The first tonne of tusks was destroyed in a rotary kiln and the burning was set to continue.

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Destroying the stockpile, which is one of the world's biggest, is expected to take up to two years.

It follows similar initiatives by Belgium, France, China, the US and the Philippines.

Hong Kong customs agents say they have intercepted a series of big shipments of smuggled ivory in recent years.

• More: China's thirst for ivory is a death sentence for Africa's elephants