The Friday File: In a moment of economic madness, the US government recently destroyed six tons of ivory, equivalent to the ivory from 2,000 elephants, and worth $16.3 million, or $8,200/elephant. With only 200,000 elephants left and a record 25,000 killed last year, making all existing ivory more valuable by depleting the supply only encourages poaching. Next time, sell the ivory, and with the proceeds purchase and save some elephants!