The Kenyan government wants demonstrative ignited tons of ivory and rhinoceros horns to send a clear message to the world - trade in ivory and rhino horn leads to massive slaughter of these animals, so it is necessary to stop it. The fire lit the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, under the supervision of legendary conservationist Richard Leakey, who had first initiated the burning of ivory.
According to the Kenyan government is not its natural assets for sale. The Government notes that the burning itself obviously does not mean an end to poaching, but assures that he burned ivory nobody can earn. It should also be a public commitment that symbolizes the country is determined to put an end to the rampage poachers. It is also a symbolic gesture before the 17th conference of member countries of CITES, to be held in September 2016 in Johannesburg. On it are expected to attempt some less enlightened countries to obtain their agreement to open trade in rhino horns and ivory.
Burning of confiscated material may at first glance seem uneconomic. Reflections on the seizure of ivory and horns are sold by the Czech Environmental Inspectorate totally contrary to the spirit of protecting endangered species. "With ivory and rhino horn trade is not legally, but even if it were possible, it would be a very short-sighted solution. Any sale strengthens further demand for raw materials. Sales would consequentially caused by hiring additional poachers and other attacks on the remaining elephants and rhinos, "says Pavla Říhová, head of CITES at CEI.
Price in Kenya burnt d'Ivoire on the black market was about $ 30 million. "But earnings from tourism in this country amounts to over two billion dollars a year. And the elephants and rhinos are among the species for which the tourists to Africa goes," says Říhová. An important argument according to her is the fact that the trade in ivory and rhino horn are funded criminal gangs and terrorist organizations, eg. Al Shabaab, Boko Haram, or the so-called Islamic State.
Are you a question, why the ivory or horn instead of selling burn? Read the following text:
It burned rhinoceros horns sense? Or would it be better to deal with them differently?
Due to poaching and tusk horns large African mammals, according to experts is a big problem. CEI indicates that every day in Africa killed three rhinos and every 15 minutes one elephant dies. Many countries are stepping up their efforts to stop poaching and combating illegal trafficking at all levels. This is not about inspections, investigations and penalties, but also public events as a symbol of resistance against these slaughterhouses. Stocks Ivory publicly burned US, France, Belgium, China, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and others.
Burning rhinoceros horns took place in September 2014 in the Czech Republic. Then the Dvur Kralove Zoo burned their stocks rhino horn. Partly as a consequence of this action was in court zoo in November 2015 declaration signed between Vietnam and the Czech Republic on cooperation leading to the suppression of illegal trade in endangered species, especially ivory and rhino horn. Czech Republic is one of the transit countries through which primarily rhino horn flows into konzumentských East Asian countries.
Burning ceremony will take place on the edge of Nairobi National Park, near the capital, the same place where in 1989 the first time in history, let burn 12 tons seized ivory legendary conservationist and director of the Kenya Wildlife Service Richard Leakey. Then ivory also personally lit the president of Kenya - Daniel Arap Moi. Kenya burns ivory on Saturday, attended by many celebrities and VIPs - Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman, musician Elton John, Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, the famous director of BBC nature documentary by David Attenborough. From the Czech Republic is invited to the ceremony Czech Ambassador Pavel Rezac Kenya and Premysl Rabas, director of the zoo in Dvur Kralove, which contributes significantly to the protection of rhinos in Africa.
Source: Ekolist.cz Ekolist.cz
