Kenya Burns 15 Tons of Tusks to Fight Poaching

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta marked World Wildlife Day by igniting a massive pyre of 15 tons of elephant tusks. This symbolic act, occurring on Tuesday, aimed to send a strong message discouraging poaching and the illicit ivory trade. Kenyatta highlighted that despite the ban on ivory trade enacted 25 years ago, renewed demand from developing economies poses a severe threat to elephants and rhinos across Africa. He expressed concern over the scale of this emerging danger to endangered species.

President Kenyatta stated, "Poachers and their enablers will not have the last word," before setting ablaze the towering pile of tusks. Reports indicate that increased ivory demand has led to a surge in elephant killings, with Save The Elephants reporting approximately 100,000 elephants killed in Africa between 2010 and 2012. This past Thursday, China responded by instituting a one-year ban on all ivory imports, acknowledging its citizens' significant demand for ivory.

Further research indicates that the price of elephant ivory in China has tripled since 2010. While Kenya has made strides, with poaching incidents declining last year to 164 elephants and 35 rhinos killed, down from 302 elephants and 59 rhinos in 2013, the threat persists. Stricter penalties for wildlife crimes, implemented last year, are credited with contributing to this decrease. Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udoto urged the global community to cease the ivory trade, emphasizing its detrimental impact on economies, heritage, and the environment.