I suppose this is something of a bittersweet story, sweet in that they have nabbed the ivory but sad in that it is probably too late for the noble beasts to whom it once belonged.

Customs officials at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport seized more than 200 kilograms of the prized trophy yesterday, finding it in the cargo section where it was headed to Vietnam from Zimbabwe. EWN reports:

The South African Revenue Services’ Luther Lebelo said it’s one of the biggest ever ivory busts in the country.

“While our officials were profiling a ship, they then discover a pallet containing numerous plastic and that plastic has been declared as handicraft from Zimbabwe. What is inside is an ivory tusk put among shredded papers”.

It is unclear as to whether or not they have made any arrests in connection with the find. I guess we can only hope that whoever is responsible for the poaching and trading of the ivory is brought to justice and sent to the deep, dark recesses of one of our penal facilities.

[source:ewn]