Punitive laws against poaching pay off

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has praised efforts by the Kenyan government – and other African states – for increased interest in curtailing illegal trade on wildlife and wildlife products.

Early this year, President Uhuru Kenyatta set ablaze 15 tonnes of elephants tasks early as the World Wildlife Day was marked globally on March 3.

Last year, Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko, set up a fully-fledged and specially trained Wildlife Crimes Prosecution Unit.

White Rhino at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has praised efforts by the Kenyan government – and other African states – for increased interest in curtailing illegal trade on wildlife and wildlife products. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

Elephants and rhinos have been targeted by poachers in Kenya over the years. In 2013, Reuters reported that 59 rhinos were poached in the country. Actually, rhinos are on the verge of extinction.

The appetite for killing rhinos for their horns is fueled by demand in the Far East, which has risen as countries such as Vietnam, one of the biggest consumers of rhino horn, and China become more prosperous.

The horns, made of keratin, has unfounded belief that it cures everything from hangovers to cancer. It is also falsely believed to be an aphrodisiac.

Kenya was represented at the historic UN meeting where the resolution focused on illegal wildlife trade last month, adopted by 157 countries, gathered for the first-ever UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi.

The Kenyan government has done a good job, "especially in tightening sanctions for those caught. But it's not the same everywhere and in places such as southern Tanzania, poaching is simply out of control," Richard Vigne, the CEO of Ol Pejeta conservancy in Kenya told a British media outlet.

Ol Pejeta is the home to three of the five surviving northern white rhinos still roaming the world.

Supporting conservation efforts, Unep highlighted the fact that the illegal harvesting and trade in wildlife not only poses a direct threat to wildlife populations, but also helps to finance criminal groups and undermines the rule of law, peace and security, and sustainable development.

The years 2011, 2012 and 2013 witnessed the highest levels of poaching in the country, according to Kenya Wildlife Service.

It then declined last year with 164 elephants and 35 rhinos killed, down from 302 elephants and 59 rhinos decimated in 2013.

Some officials pegged the decreasing cases of poaching to punitive measures used by the Government against those involved in the illegal wildlife business.

"We would like to tell the world to stop the trade in ivory because it is destroying our economy, our heritage, our environment," says Paul Udoto, a spokesman for the Kenya Wildlife Service.

UNEP's latest statistics put the value of illegal wildlife trade at Sh14.2 trillion every year.

Kenya is currently part of 32 countries that pledged new and tougher action on combating the wildlife trade at a conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade, held last March in Kasane, Botswana.

Kenya's efforts have come at a time when the international community has showed great support in stopping illegal trade in wildlife related products. For instance, nine Internet enterprises in China, including giants Alibaba committed not to offer services to illegal wildlife products on their networks.

The US funded Interpol Operation, PAWS, has so far arrested more than 100 wildlife criminals. It has also seized 280kg of pangolin scales, 83 bears and parts, 3,500kg of elephant ivory and over 4000kg of red sandal wood.