Kenya begs for ivory ban
2002-04-29 15:24
Cape Town - The Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) on Monday appealed to the international community to save elephant populations from further decimation by not supporting the sale of ivory stockpiles, as has been proposed by the South African government.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said in a
statement in Cape Town that the appeal comes in the wake of 10
elephants being shot dead by a gang of poachers in the Tsavo East
National Park in Kenya late last month. Three elephants were also
poached in the Samburu Game Reserve in northern Kenya this year.
The appeal is being supported by conservationists worldwide.
IFAW said the poaching incidents came soon after South Africa
announced it was drafting a proposal for submission to the
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) that would allow the country to sell its ivory stockpiles.
The IFAW and other conservation groups have argued that any
trade, including once-off stockpile sales, would create a market
for ivory - legally or illegally obtained.
Heightened poaching activities
"Our investigation team has confirmed that three elephants have been poached in Samburu Game Reserve," KWS director Joe Kioko said.
He said Kenyan anti-poaching units were well-armed and security operations were still a high priority for KWS.
However, the KWS was concerned that the call for the sale of
ivory stockpiles was perpetrating the heightened poaching
activities seen recently in Kenya.
"The poachers are stepping up their attacks aiming at creating
or increasing their stock in anticipation of relaxation of ivory
trade rules in the Cites meeting in November this year.
"Our appeal is now directed to the international community to
deny ivory stockpile sale proposals in order to save the species," Kioko said.
He said the KWS had taken action to deal with elephant poaching incidents and one poacher had been killed while ivory from nine elephants had been recovered along with ammunition and guns.
- SAPA