On April 30 106 tons of ivory was set ablaze in Nairobi National Park. This ivory represented around 6,700 dead elephants and 450 dead rhinos with a street value estimated at $150 million. Mara Elephant Project was proud to witness such a historic event made possible by our partners Kenya Wildlife Service, Save the Elephants, CITES, Stop Ivory and the Government of Kenya.
“You really had a sense that everyone there was like-minded and there for the same reason; to acknowledge that Kenya made a bold choice that was the right choice to burn the ivory.”Suzanne Fehsenfeld, MEP Founder
MEP CEO Marc Goss with MEP Founder Suzanne Fehsenfeld.
The crowd was filled with conservationists, politicians, media and celebrities (Elizabeth Hurley pictured) all of whom were personally invited to this historic event. Though controversial, MEP stands by it’s partners and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta that destroying ivory is a necessary step in protecting Kenya’s lasting legacy in this world, their ecosystem, of which elephants are a keystone species.
“There’s a passing of judgment from some that we’re doing the wrong thing, because Kenya is a poor country, and we could use the $150 million-odd dollars that they claim the ivory is worth to develop our nation,” President Kenyatta said. “But I would rather wait for the judgment of future generations, who I am sure will appreciate the decision we have taken today.”
“No one, and I repeat, no one, has any business in trading in ivory, for this trade means death — the death of our elephants and the death of our natural heritage.”President Kenyatta
Sir Iain Douglas-Hamilton with Courtney Fehsenfeld.
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