In Paris, even dead elephants aren't safe from ivory poachers

This brief video above from Euronews describes the scene at the Paris Natural History Museum.

If there’s any doubt that poachers will go to any length to illegally acquire ivory, then a recent news report should dispel it.

About a week ago, the Parisian police nabbed a thief who broke into the Paris Natural History Museum and used a chain saw to lop off the tusk of an elephant on display.

The elephant had been given to King Louis XIV by the king of Portugal in 1668. The historical value of the tusk, which weighs 3 kilos, outweighs its value on the black market, according to the museum’s curator.

It just goes to show you that the demand for ivory is so great that not even dead elephants are safe from poachers.

This is the first I’ve heard of an attempt to steal ivory from a museum. However, there have been a number of thefts of rhino horn from museums in Europe in recent years.

--JB

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