Mysuru: After Kenya burnt down its stockpile of ivory, India too is contemplating to follow the same path.
As per sources, Karnataka too has mooted a proposal to burn down its ivory stock, but since the proposal is awaiting approval from the government, nothing has material in this regard.

Karnataka is estimated to have the largest quantity of ivory in India followed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Odisha as they have the largest number of tusker population.

In Bandipur, Nagarhole forest region there are over 4000 elephants and in case of death of elephants, the tusks are removed after the Post Mortem.

The valuable tusks are then handed over to the custody of the official concerned, which is preserved in the godown of the forest department.

There are over 2290 preserved tusks in total at the Mysuru forest Bhavan godown and the country owns 12 tonnes of such tusks.

As of now, 150 to 200 tusks has been given to the Indian Army for ornamental purposes.

The forest department is expecting to get permission by October.

The officials added that even though the government can fetch crores of revenue by auctioning these tusks, there is a fear that if people come to know of the value of the tusks then the pachyderm population will be under threat.

It is said that experts in India want to follow the footsteps of Kenya and burn down the ‘white gold’ to send a strong message to poachers.