A ranger from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) adjusts the positioning of tusks. The pyre is one of around a dozen that was burned in Nairobi National Park, Kenya on Saturday, April 30, 2016 in a dramatic statement against illegal poaching.
A ranger from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) adjusts the positioning of tusks. The pyre is one of around a dozen that was burned in Nairobi National Park, Kenya on Saturday, April 30, 2016 in a dramatic statement against illegal poaching.
Ben Curtis/AP
The mass burning involved 105 tons of elephant ivory and more than 1 ton of rhino horn, believed to be the largest stockpile ever destroyed.
The mass burning involved 105 tons of elephant ivory and more than 1 ton of rhino horn, believed to be the largest stockpile ever destroyed.
Ben Curtis/AP
A basket of rhino horn, left, burns next to pyres of ivory on April 30, 2016. It took Kenya's Wildlife Services 10 days to build the crematorium.
A basket of rhino horn, left, burns next to pyres of ivory on April 30, 2016. It took Kenya's Wildlife Services 10 days to build the crematorium.
Ben Curtis/AP
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta called for an end to "murderous" trafficking and to fight against the extinction of elephants in the wild.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta called for an end to "murderous" trafficking and to fight against the extinction of elephants in the wild.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images
Every 15 minutes, an elephant is killed for its tusks. And some 1,338 rhinos were poached in Africa last year, a record number and the sixth year in a row that the number of poaching incidents has increased.
Every 15 minutes, an elephant is killed for its tusks. And some 1,338 rhinos were poached in Africa last year, a record number and the sixth year in a row that the number of poaching incidents has increased.
Ben Curtis/AP
Firemen stand by at the ready as pyres of ivory are set on fire in Nairobi National Park, Kenya Saturday, April 30, 2016. The pyres will take about a week to completely burn.
Firemen stand by at the ready as pyres of ivory are set on fire in Nairobi National Park, Kenya Saturday, April 30, 2016. The pyres will take about a week to completely burn.
Ben Curtis/AP
Critics worried it would send the price of ivory in the black market up but conservationist Richard Leakey told the crowd at the burn ceremony that prior burnings have led to a dramatic drop in prices.
Critics worried it would send the price of ivory in the black market up but conservationist Richard Leakey told the crowd at the burn ceremony that prior burnings have led to a dramatic drop in prices.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images
Kenya's tourism, based mostly around its wildlife, makes up about 12% of the country's GDP. Over its life, a live elephant generates 76 times more in tourism revenue than it does for its ivory, according to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an elephant rescue and rehabilitation group.
Kenya's tourism, based mostly around its wildlife, makes up about 12% of the country's GDP. Over its life, a live elephant generates 76 times more in tourism revenue than it does for its ivory, according to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an elephant rescue and rehabilitation group.
Ben Curtis/AP