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Kenya gears up for historic ivory burn

Xinhua, April 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Kenyan government is finalizing preparations for the historic burning of elephant tusks and rhino horns seized from different parts of the country and the eastern African region, officials said on Wednesday.

Kitili Mbathi, Director General of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) during a media tour of the ivory burning site said that solid measures are in place to ensure the historic event on April 30 is not interrupted.

"We are in the final preparatory stage of the ivory burn to be conducted late this month and so far no hiccup has been encountered in the journey towards this historic event," Mbathi told journalists.

So far, tonnes of ivory and rhino horns sealed in containers have already been deployed at the heavily guarded burning site inside Nairobi national park.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, scores of African leaders, business magnates and celebrities from different parts of the world will witness the burning of 105 tonnes of elephant tusks and 1.3 tonnes of rhino horns.

Mbithi said Kenya will reaffirm its uncompromising stance against illegal wildlife trade during the occasion.

"As a country, the message that we are going to send to the world during the ivory burn is that there is no intrinsic value on our iconic wildlife species. We would also like to stimulate the global debate on the need to enforce a ban on ivory trade," said Mbithi.

He disclosed that Kenya will push for a total ban on ivory trade during the CITES conference to be held in South Africa in September.

Leading conservationists have rallied behind the torching of ivory, terming it a giant step in the journey to eradicate illegal trade in wildlife products.

Winnie Kiiru, the head of Country Liaison Office, Stop Ivory said the ivory burn will be a milestone in the conservation of iconic mammals that roam the Kenyan vast plains.

"By burning a huge cache of trophies, Kenya will join a growing list of countries that have resolved to wipe out poaching. It reaffirms the country's resolve to remain on a higher pedestal when it comes to wildlife protection," Kiiru said. Endit