MANYANI – Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki set fire to five tonnes of contraband ivory yesterday, a symbol of his and Africa’s renewed commitment to fight poaching.
Elephant numbers had started to recover after the ivory trade was banned in 1990, but observers say the rising wealth of east Asian countries has caused a price and demand spike in recent years.
Mr Kibaki said the burning of 335 tusks, worth 1.5 billion shillings (€11.25 million), sent a signal to poachers and ivory traffickers. – (Reuters)
