The war to save African wildlife heats up

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta set fire on April 30, 2016, to 105 tons of elephant tusks and 1.3 tons of rhino horn, demanding an end to the ‘murderous’ ivory trade. Photo: Reuters

It was one of the most momentous events in the battle against poaching: 11 giant pyres of elephant tusks going up in flames in Kenya as the world looked on.

The largest-ever destruction of ivory, which took place in April, was the pinnacle of efforts to jolt mankind into stopping the slaughter of wildlife, while sending a powerful message to poachers.