KENYA BURNS CONFISCATED IVORY

Kenya burned 12 tons of ivory worth more than $3 million Tuesday in a gesture symbolizing its commitment to protecting the African elephant. Kenya is leading a campaign for a global ban of the ivory trade, and the bonfire was a message to poachers of elephants that it considers the ivory market closed.

Most of the ivory burned had been confiscated by the government from poachers, who have cut Kenya's elephant herd to 17,000 from more than 65,000 in 10 years.