Spotlight on Kenya's ambitions to control wildlife crime

Spotlight on Kenya's ambitions to control wildlife crime
Kenyan Ranger stands guard as tons of elephant ivory and rhino horns burn. Photo by KWS

By Henry Owino

Kenya is known for iconic wildlife, such as the African Elephant Loxodonta africana and the critically Endangered Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis.  But many of these species have been under pressure for the last half a century from several factors, including the illegal wildlife trade, which the government authorities and wildlife crusaders have been fighting. 

Rhino grazing at Nairobi National Park within the capital city. Photo by KWS.
And, the fight is slowly bearing fruits. 

Jim Nyamu, Executive Director, The Elephant Neighbors Center (ENC), says some interventions have helped a great deal to save endangered wildlife species.

In July 1989, the Kenyan Government made historical international news headlines by burning seized wildlife products. At least 12 tonnes of ivory went up in flames, a signal that the government is committed to stamping out elephant and rhino poaching. 

According to Paul Gathitu, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Inspectorate on Wildlife and Protected Areas, the setting of wildlife products on fire was the largest stockpile of ivory ever seen in the world. He maintains that this act showed the seriousness of the Kenyan government towards combating poaching. 

It was also meant to discourage the illegal lucrative global ivory trade. Subsequent government regimes have since taken up the trend of destroying seized elephant ivory and rhino horns stocks. These and so many are measures that the Kenyan government has been investing in to control wildlife crime, and they seem to pay off. 

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