Interview: Sino-Kenya partnership in wildlife protection bearing fruits: officials

China's robust engagement with Kenya in the area of wildlife protection has borne fruits as evidenced by the recent decline in poaching of iconic mammals including elephants and rhinos,senior officials said.

The officials who spoke to Xinhua during separate interviews were upbeat Sino-Kenya cooperation in wildlife and ecosystems protection had a promising future.

Edwin Wanyonyi, Deputy Director of Change and Strategy Division of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said that a partnership with China has strengthened protection of wildlife species.

"Sino-Kenya cooperation on wildlife conservation has brought positive outcomes. There has been increased sharing of information as guided by the CITES where we were grouped as a gang of 8," Wanyonyi told Xinhua.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Kenya in May 2014 announced new funding and technical support to enhance wildlife protection in the east African nation.

Wanyonyi said that China has actively supported Kenya's efforts to stamp out wildlife crimes.

"We have strengthened cooperation in the war against poaching and China has donated state of the art equipment to help our rangers identify and track poachers and trophies on transit," Wanyonyi remarked.

He added that Chinese Embassy in Kenya has donated anti-poaching gear to help eliminate the vice that is to blame for loss of iconic mammals.

Kenya's wildlife agency has partnered with Chinese institutions to strengthen its core mandate of protecting wild animals from natural and human induced threats.

Wanyonyi noted that exchange programs between wildlife officials in China and Kenya have flourished lately.

He added that staff from Kenya's wildlife agency have benefited from technical training sponsored by the Chinese government.

"On capacity building, there is a joint training with Chinese Academy of Science and KWS allowing staff exchange and training at Masters and PhD level," said Wanyonyi.

Kenyan wildlife officials in April this year visited China to explore new areas of collaboration that would boost protection of habitats alongside tourism.

Wanyonyi said the visit injected vitality on Sino-Kenya partnership in wildlife conservation and tourism.

"Our partnership in tourism has blossomed and our local hotels and parks have developed information packages and cuisine that suits Chinese tourists," Wanyonyi remarked.

Sino-Kenya cooperation in wildlife protection has reached a critical milestone since the signing of an agreement between the two countries to achieve that objective.

Paul Udoto, spokesperson of Kenya Wildlife Service, hailed progress realized after the Kenyan and Chinese government endorsed a pact to promote wildlife protection.

"The Kenya-China relationship in wildlife conservation and tourism has grown by leaps and bounds. Since the signing of an agreement which laid clear framework and roadmap, we have a robust staff exchange program," said Udoto, adding that Kenya has hosted high level Chinese delegation to re-energize partnership in wildlife protection

Kenyan conservation lobby groups are optimistic China's contribution will embolden ongoing programs to strengthen protection of wildlife species.

Munira Bashir, the Kenya Program Director, Africa Regional Office at Nature Conservancy hailed China's robust engagement with the Kenyan government and grassroots networks to promote wildlife protection.

"So far, China-Kenya cooperation in wildlife protection is bearing fruits and am optimistic the trend will remain the same as we usher a new year," Bashir told Xinhua.

The Nature Conservancy has partnered with Chinese internet giant, Tencent to raise awareness on wildlife protection in both Kenya and China.

Senior executives from Tencent in December commenced a weeklong visit to Kenya to forge new alliances and boost wildlife protection programs in the country's northern frontier districts. Eedit