Huge Ivory Haul Discovered in Kenya

in Conservation by Araneta&Tan — October 6, 2009 at 6:05 am | 0 comments

Elephant Tusks

Kenyan authorities have reported the discovery of a huge haul of illegal ivory that was destined to head to the Asian market. In total, 684 kilograms were seized at Nairobi Airport, comprising entirely of elephant tusks.

This is a huge haul that is worth millions of dollars on the black market. Kenya Wildlife Service also revealed that a similar sized haul was found in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia at the same time. Back in July, another large haul of ivory was found in Kenya, consisting of 16 elephant tusks and two rhino horns, suggesting that poaching and the illegal ivory trade is still thriving in East Africa.

Asian Connection

The most recent haul was destined to travel to Bangkok. The demand for ivory in Asia is very high, and China is an especially popular destination. Some experts believe that the increasing Chinese workers across Africa are playing a role in the growth of the trade in recent years. Many of them are on low salaries, and as a result they have turned into middle men for the potentially lucrative trade. Ivory sells for up to $1,000 a kilogram, making it a tempting proposition for many.

A Growing Trade

Ivory

So far this year, poachers in Kenya have killed 128 elephants for their ivory. This was up from last year when 98 elephants were killed. Although all killing of game has been outlawed since 2003 in the country, restrictions are occasionally lifted on a one-off basis, which only serves to exacerbate the problem.

How to Help

Elephants may not suffer from the same endangered status as other large mammals in Africa, such as mountain gorillas and rhinoceroses. But they are still under threat all across the continent due to poaching and problems caused when they come into contact with people.

Save the Elephants is one of the biggest and most active charities dedicated exclusively to the protection of elephants across Africa. The charity focuses on different key areas to protect the animals and ensure their continued survival.

These include research through such schemes as GPS tracking to gain a greater insight into the behaviour of the animals which can lead to new and more effective protection methods. They also focus on education at a grassroots level, working on the belief that the local communities are the best ambassadors for elephants as they share the land with the animals.

Another important aspect of the charity’s work is protection. Elephants are constantly at risk from the illegal ivory trade, and poaching is rife. In order to combat poaching, effective deterrents must be put in place. Radio tracking and aerial surveillance are used to combat illegal poaching, and it is initiatives like this that help to ensure the protection of the species.

There are many other charities that support elephant conservation, two of which are Born Free and ACF (African Conservation Foundation). Visit the websites to find out more about the plight of the elephants and to find out what you can do to help.

NTV Kenya