An international lobby group has listed Kenya as one of the countries that should be hit with sanctions for colluding in the illegal trade of ivory.
Speaking at the annual Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference in Bangkok, Elephant Trade Information System official, Tom Milliken said that countries like Kenya, Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines and China should be made to see that their participation in the illegal trade can attract harsh consequences;
“Nations at the heart of an unprecedented surge in African elephant killings must be hit with heavy trade sanctions,” he said.
Milliken said that the his organization had noted that none of the countries had taken concrete steps to end the illegal trade in ivory and also that in crocodile skin;
“There has been no discernible impact from previous Cites measures and unless this summit takes this seriously, we are not going to win this thing.”
“Ban these countries from all wildlife trade, including the hugely lucrative orchid and crocodile skin exports,” he said.
Another official Tom de Meulenaer however said that sanctions are unlikely.
In related news a team of KWS wardens are said to be in pursuit of suspected elephant poachers that escaped from custody at Mwingi town on Friday.
by The Kenyan DAILY POST
