Burn it or sell it, Kenya burned 105 tonnes of ivory. Declaring a total war against poaching elephants (and rhino’s ) for their tusks. Wise to do?

Yes, says (among others), Richard Leaky: it’s the only way. According to Richard Leakey. But… burning 105 tonnes of creating is creating scarcity on the market and causes prices to go up, so the demand side of the market will make more efforts to kill. Not helping the elephant population at all.

Option 2: Selling ivory on the (black) market could really boost the economy (market value of the 105 tonnes ivory being destroyed is approximately 105 million US$). By bringing more ivory in the market the price will drop and you will destroy the market.

This, in an nutshell, seems the dilemma of Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta. What’s the man thinking while watching the piles burn?