Kenya’s war against poaching has entered a defining moment with key donors like the US government coming in with substantial financial support for the campaign.
Statistically, the cases of elephant poaching have significantly declined from 384 in 2012 to 96 last year. Also, killings targeting the rhino, another priceless heritage, went down to 11 last year, from a high of 59 in 2013.
Poaching has always been a major threat to Kenya’s tourism industry that thrives largely on flora and fauna besides its scintillating beaches.
At one point it seemed the poachers had placed the country under siege as they wantonly killed the animals and escaped easily without trace.
In fact, Kenya quickly joined the league of the so-called ‘gang of eight’ for notoriety of trade in ivory, walking in the camp of China, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Uganda and Tanzania.
However, some of the interventions put in place in recent times such as enforcement of strict rules and intensified surveillance at the entry and exit ports helped to reduce the killings.
Further, the support from the international community including financial and sharing of information remarkably contributed to the drop.
Even so, the recent gains are no reason to celebrate. The war is long-term and requires consistent and concerted efforts.
It is remembered that the country recorded the highest cases of poaching in the late 1980s and forced the government to reorganise the whole conservation strategy, including setting up the Kenya Wildlife Service, which went ahead to fight vigorously to contain poaching. But those gains were later reversed and the country found itself in cyclical incidents of poaching.
Thus, the lesson is to build on the achievements made and with the increased financial support from donors, go for high-tech facilities to enhance surveillance and tracking of poachers besides strict enforcement of the laws.
Equally, political support is required to deal a deadly blow to the cartels that promote poaching.
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