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France publicly destroys seized ivory worth $6m

The three tonnes of ivory was crushed in front of the Eiffel Tower in bid to increase international pressure against elephant poaching in Africa.

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Three tonnes of confiscated ivory worth more than $6m (£3.7m) has been publicly destroyed in France, in what was the first such move in Europe, reports the BBC.

Some 7,000 elephant tusks and 15,000 carved ornaments were crushed in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris before being taken off to be burned.

The measure was designed to increase international pressure against elephant poaching in Africa.

About 22,000 elephants were killed by poachers in 2012, according to a study.

The report by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and other conservationist organisations said the animals were killed for their tusks.

Read more of this report from the BBC.