Kenya destroys 15 tons of ivory taken from poachers

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By TOM ODULA

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya's president set fire to 15 tons of elephant tusks during World Wildlife Day Tuesday to discourage poaching and trade in ivory.

Twenty-five years since ivory trade was banned, new demand from emerging markets threatens Africa's elephants and rhinos, President Uhuru Kenyatta said at the event. African countries are concerned about the scale and rate of the new threat to endangered wildlife species, he said.

"Many of these tusks belonged to elephants which were wantonly slaughtered by criminals. We want future generations of Kenyans, Africans and the entire world to experience the majesty and beauty of these magnificent beasts. Poachers and their enablers will not have the last word," Kenyatta said before setting a blaze an almost 10 feet high pile of huge elephant tusks doused with petrol.

Higher demand for ivory is fueling elephant killings by poachers across Africa. Save The Elephants said last year that 100,000 elephants were killed in Africa between 2010 and 2012. On Thursday, China imposed a one-year ban on ivory imports amid criticism that its citizens' huge appetite for ivory threatens the existence of Africa's elephants.

FULL story at link.



A firefighter controls the flames as 15 tons of elephant tusks are set on fire during an anti-poaching ceremony at Nairobi National Park in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, March 3, 2015. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta set fire to the elephant ivory during World Wildlife Day to discourage poaching, saying that 25 years after the historic banning of the ivory trade, new demand from emerging markets is threatening Africa's elephants and rhinos. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150303/af--kenya-ivory-burning-48f03d225b.html

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Throw the damn poachers on the fire too!

For the elephants...

[Politicalboi]

1. Is that the best way to do this

Now they need more dead Elephants for more Ivory. There must be another solution. I wish we the US would do something about this.

[BobbyBoring]

2. I hear ya

The harm has been done. Perhaps the ivory could have been sold and the proceeds used to combat coaching. 15 tons brings big $ I would think.

[LeftyMom]

6. Legal ivory sales camouflage poached ivory.

Selling the stuff just gives the poachers another legal shipment they can pass their illegal shipment off as.

[secondvariety]

3. I'd rather

see 15 tons of poachers destroyed...

[navarth]

4. Yes. Burn the fucking poachers.

[calikid]

5. The elephants are something our defense dept. should be defending. n/t