President Uhuru Kenyatta has set on fire stockpile containing 105 tonnes of ivory and 1.35 tonnes of rhino horns in a historic ceremony to protest against slaughtering of elephants and the killing of about 340 of the endangered animals.

In a statement, President Kenyatta called for total ban on ivory trade before setting on fire the first of the eleven stockpiles in a semi-circle of tusks at the Nairobi National Park.

This is a historical event in which bonfires were the largest-ever torching of ivory which is seven times bigger than any stockpile burned before and is expected to burn for days.

KWS officers prepare the stockpile. (PHOTO: COURTESY)
A view of the eleven stockpiles prepared by the KWS officials. (PHOTO: COURTESY)
Officers stand guard at the site.(PHOTO: COURTESY)
The first of the stockpiles goes up in flames. (PHOTO: COURTESY)
A closeup of the burning ivory. (PHOTO: COURTESY)
Onlookers at the site of burning ivory. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

 

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