Ethiopian Review

Nairobi — Kenya’s elephant population has doubled following the international ban on trade of wildlife products. But Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) is warning the gain, which saw the number of elephants rise to 32,000 from 16,000 in 1989, could be wiped out due to increased poaching prompted by the lifting of the partial ban in some African countries recently.

KWS Director Julius Kipng’etich said the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) decision in 2007 to partially lift the international trade ban on ivory had stimulated poaching across elephant range and ivory smuggling.

The ban was to allow for a one-off sale to China and Japan by four countries; Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

“Kenya remains opposed to lifting of the ivory trade ban particularly the nine-year ivory trade moratorium that was linked to the one-off sale,” Dr Kipng’etich told The Standard during the 20th anniversary of the 1989 ivory burning at the Nairobi National Park.

He said the upsurge in poaching was leading to an estimated 90 elephant deaths in a year.

Despite the stirred markets as a result of the lift in ivory sales, he cited lack of strong enforcement laws in neighbouring countries as a major setback to full protection of the endangered species.

Kipng’etich said KWS had built capacity among its officers to detect the movement of wildlife and their products, and pledged to extend the same to the neighbouring countries.

“Wildlife anywhere, should concern us all as any loss is a loss to all of us, this is why we want to take a lead and teach the world about conservation,” he said.

Mr Patrick Omondi, KWS head of species management, said there was need to protect wildlife, for future generations, as well maintain an influx of tourists for economic gain.

“This commemoration reminds the world that illegal trade in ivory still remains a threat to African elephants,” Omondi said, adding that human-animal conflict remains a threat to wildlife due to lack of a clear land use policy.

- By Ramadhan Rajab | The Standard