Ivory sales debate in Tanzania results in increased poaching in Kenya
Debate is underway following proposals from Tanzania and Zambia to allow a limited sale of ivory. Kenyan officials are afraid that if sales are approved in neighboring countries, elephant poaching will increase and evidence is indicating they may be correct. Poaching of elephants has risen steeply Kenya since a one-time ivory sale was approved in 2007. The trend seems to be continuing with over 270 Kenyan elephants killed by poachers last year as compared with 37 in 2007.
TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK, Kenya — Tracking the wounded elephant to its death bed was easy for the ranger. Hit by a poison arrow, the huge mammal could only drag its hind leg, creating a wide gash across the bush.
Poachers’ footprints were all around the kill, but the hunters did not have time to remove the valuable ivory tusks before Mohamed Kamany’s team of armed rangers arrived. Instead, the emotional task fell to the rangers, who cut off the tusks so they could not be sold.
Beginning this weekend, the international community will debate proposals from Tanzania and Zambia to allow a one-time sale of ivory to clear out stockpiles. Kenyan officials are warning that if sales are approved in neighboring countries, elephant poaching will soar.
“We totally believe that any experiments to allow partial lifting of (the) international ban in ivory trade stimulates elephant poaching and leads to ivory laundering,” the Kenyan Wildlife Service’;s Patrick Omandi said. “Indeed there has been an increase in poaching across the entire continent, with some countries losing their entire population.”
