In Kenya, Violent Elephant Poaching Increases at an Alarming Rate
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials display recovered elephants tusks and illegally held firearms from poachers at their headquarters in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, June 22, 2012. Since January to May this year, KWS has lost 133 elephants and 11 rhinos to poaching. Mortality statistics show that a significant number of elephants and rhinos are being poached outside protected areas according to the Kenya Wildlife Service. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya (KENYA – Tags: SOCIETY ENVIRONMENT CRIME LAW)
Authorities in China have reported a sharp increase in the amount of illegal ivory shipments they intercept.
Just Monday, there was news of the latest massacre of 11 elephants – killed by poachers for their ivory tusks in Kenya.
Jeffrey Gettleman covers the illicit ivory trade for The New York Times, in Nairobi, Kenya.
He said that as a pound of ivory can fetch upwards of $1,000 in Beijing, there is little chance this violent and illegal trade will slow down anytime soon in Central Africa.
To make matters worse, Gettleman said it’s almost impossible to catch the poachers.