The smoke from the 12 burning ivory towers made of elephant tusks and rhino horn in the Nairobi National Park should stir the world to end poaching.
Wildlife Conservation Society president Cristián Samper said the poaching crisis threatens to wipe out Africa’s mighty elephants and rhinos.
“Kenya’s massive ivory and rhino horn burn sends a clear message that Kenya has zero tolerance for the violence and corruption annihilating elephants and rhinos, iconic species that help symbolise Africa’s wonderful natural heritage,” he said.
In 1989, Kenya held the first public ivory destruction. Since then, the world has witnessed 28 ivory crushes and burns conducted by 21 nations.
Samper said this largest-ever burn is emblematic of the global groundswell of support to end the commercial trade in ivory and rhino horn.
