Kenya burns ivory in stand against illegal trade

Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta sets fire to the largest pile of ivory that was burned on Saturday. Photo by Hou Liqiang/China Daily

Kenya set ablaze 105 tons of ivory and 1.3 tons of rhino horns in a bid to send a strong message against poaching and illegal trade in these products.

In a clear and stern message, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta reaffirmed the country's stand to save its recovering wildlife population by burning the ivory to reduce the economic value of the tusks, saying they are a national treasure better valued when attached on a live elephant.

He boldly addressed contentious voices that call for legalizing the trade and said Kenya will soon be forwarding its proposal to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) calling for a complete ban.