The rate at which African elephants are being killed is alarmingly high, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora has warned.
In a statement yesterday, CITES said habitat loss and fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict are long-term challenges facing not only African elephants but also Asian elephants.
“Countries around the world are encouraged to highlight species from their own countries, both wild animals and plants, adapting the global theme to suit,” Cites said in preparation of the World Wildlife Day celebrations.
Kenya last year lost 164 elephants and 35 rhinos to poachers, representing a drop of in their killings by 47 per cent and 40.7 per cent respectively from 2013.
The country lost 302 elephants and 59 rhinos in 2013.
In 2012, 384 elephants and 30 rhinos were killed by poachers, while in 2007, 47 elephants and five rhinos were killed.
The World Wildlife Day will be celebrated in March under the theme “The future of wildlife is in our hands”.
The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2013.