Kenya makes history by setting ablaze towers of ivory

April 30, 2016- Kenya makes history by burning 105 tons of elephant ivory and over a ton of Rhinoceros’ horns in Nairobi National Park, with 12 towers piled high of forbidden ivory set ablaze! While it is the largest quantity to have ever been recorded, it comes at the expense of 6,700 poor elephants, most of which died at the hands of poachers and illegal traders. Very cruel, isn’t it?

Image via npr.org

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta had the option to sell the ivory for a whooping $150 million, but decided to go against such unethical trade practices. He claimed that the tusks ‘should not have any commercial value’ so as to protect the welfare of wildlife. Research reveals that Africa had 1.3 million elephants in the 1970s. Sadly though, there are just 500,000 of them that remain today.

Image via npr.org

This year, the nation will fight against ivory trade when they take part in the International Trade of Endangered Species Convention. At the moment, there are still a handful of countries within Africa that are still commercializing ivory. It is hoped that the act of burning them will create awareness towards such illegal practices and wipe them out once and for all. Earlier this month, Cameroon burnt close to four tons of tusks as a way of fighting against poaching.

Image via The Associated Press

Ivory may be a valuable asset for human beings, but it has detrimentally impacted the lives of elephants as their population is evidently diminishing. Let us hope that this fiery incident will open the eyes of poachers and illegal traders, so that they too can protect the welfare of these endangered species in a responsible manner.