2 months ago
1
The Forest section is exploring the anticipation of selling the ash generated aft burning ivory stocks successful its custody.
At present, the section holds astir 13 tonnes of ivory, including tusks seized successful wildlife transgression cases and those collected from deceased chaotic and captive elephants. The banal is estimated to beryllium worthy astir ₹260 crore.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had directed State governments to dispose “wild animals articles, trophy, uncured trophy, nutrient derived from immoderate chaotic animals” aft notifying the Wild Life Disposal of Wild Animal Article Rules, 2023 to regularise their articles successful July 2023. The notification required the State Wildlife departments to destruct government-held ivory successful their possession, and prohibited their merchantability oregon auction.
While the State authorities had earlier reportedly expressed reservations astir destroying the stockpile, the Central directives appears to person prompted the section to comply.
With the demolition process mandated, the Forest section is present examining whether the ash generated from the incineration of ivory could beryllium marketed, provided it complies with ineligible and regulatory frameworks. The section is presently studying the legal, biology and commercialized aspects to find if specified a determination would beryllium permissible.
According to Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran, the authorities is examining the commercialized imaginable of the resulting ash. Discussions are being held with pharmaceutical companies regarding the imaginable uses of the by-products. The ash is said to person medicinal properties that could beryllium utilized for Ayurvedic medicine production.
He, however, described the connection arsenic a “creative suggestion” and clarified that nary last determination has been taken. He added that the department’s contiguous work is to travel the Central guidelines, portion immoderate determination regarding the commercialized usage of ivory ash would lone beryllium taken aft thorough consultation and scrutiny.
