By — Elif Koc Elif Koc Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/in-message-to-poachers-kenya-sets-ablaze-more-than-100-tons-of-confiscated-elephant-and-rhino-tusks Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter In message to poachers, Kenya sets ablaze more than 100 tons of confiscated elephant and rhino tusks World Apr 30, 2016 4:23 PM EDT An estimated 115 tons of elephant and rhino tusks confiscated by authorities were set ablaze in Kenya on Saturday to draw attention to the country’s continued fight against poaching. Africa’s population of elephants and rhinos are dwindling, as poachers killed an estimated 20,000 elephants and 1,300 rhinos just last year. Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta initiated the burning in Nairobi National Park. Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta lights elephant tusks on fire at Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. Photo by Thomas Mukoya/Reuters A fire expert monitors the burning of confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers, at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. Photo by Thomas Mukoya/Reuters Onlookers watch elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers burning at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. Photo by Thomas Mukoya/Reuters Kenya Wildlife Services rangers patrol as they guard the burning of an estimated 105 tonnes of Elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. Photo by Thomas Mukoya/Reuters Black market buyers from Asia and the United States have driven the price of ivory to $1,000 per pound, and rhino horn to $45,000 per pound, making it more expensive than gold, PBS NewsHour reported in January. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Elif Koc Elif Koc Elif Koc is a web intern at PBS NewsHour Weekend in New York City, where she focuses on data visualization and interactive articles. She currently attends New York University, and has previously written for Mashable, The Atlantic, and her blog News Paratus. @lolzelifkoc
An estimated 115 tons of elephant and rhino tusks confiscated by authorities were set ablaze in Kenya on Saturday to draw attention to the country’s continued fight against poaching. Africa’s population of elephants and rhinos are dwindling, as poachers killed an estimated 20,000 elephants and 1,300 rhinos just last year. Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta initiated the burning in Nairobi National Park. Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta lights elephant tusks on fire at Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. Photo by Thomas Mukoya/Reuters A fire expert monitors the burning of confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers, at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. Photo by Thomas Mukoya/Reuters Onlookers watch elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers burning at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. Photo by Thomas Mukoya/Reuters Kenya Wildlife Services rangers patrol as they guard the burning of an estimated 105 tonnes of Elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. Photo by Thomas Mukoya/Reuters Black market buyers from Asia and the United States have driven the price of ivory to $1,000 per pound, and rhino horn to $45,000 per pound, making it more expensive than gold, PBS NewsHour reported in January. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now