The numbers are stark. So are the images.
Some 8,000 elephants killed by poachers to create this, a stockpile of 105 tonnes of ivory, spread over 11 large pyres and set ablaze in Kenya.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, other heads of state, world leaders, conservationists and celebrities, were on hand Saturday for the historic event in Nairobi National Park. Another 1.5 tonnes of rhino horn from 343 poached rhinos were also burned.
“The burning of Kenya’s elephant ivory and rhino horn stockpile shows my government’s strong commitment to fighting wildlife crime,” Kenyatta said.
By destroying ivory, we declare once and for all that our National Heritage is not for sale. pic.twitter.com/4b1TbhUFhY
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) April 30, 2016
For us ivory is worthless, unless it is on our elephants. pic.twitter.com/HbQ4IDZLYs
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) April 30, 2016
“The ivory haul and rhino horns, which we set on fire this afternoon, will take at least three days to be completely consumed by the fire,” the president added.
The epic bonfire comes at leaders gather for the Giants’ Club summit, which is lobbying for a global ban on ivory.
Elephants are on the road to extinction if poaching continues at the current rate. Around 20,000 were killed for their tusks last year, according to most estimates.
Countries around the world have stepped up efforts to crack down in the illegal wildlife trade.
A #KWS ranger watches the blaze from afar as 105 tons of #ivory & 1.35 tons of #rhinohorn are set alight @StopIvory pic.twitter.com/qtxolKusZ4
— Tusk (@TuskTrust) April 30, 2016
Here’s an image of the ivory beginning to go up in flames (credit: Nathalie van Koot / WWF-NL) pic.twitter.com/CENtTV2A4U
— WWF News (@WWFnews) April 30, 2016
#Kenya made history by burning 100 tons of ivory sending a clear message 2 poachers that their days are numbered pic.twitter.com/YYF1UEwWRM
— wildlifedirect (@wildlifedirect) April 30, 2016
Main photo Kenya Wildlife Service/Facebook
