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Kenya celebrates World Wildlife Day in style

They launched a toolkit to help curb illegal wildlife trade in Africa.

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by SHARON MWENDE

News04 March 2022 - 07:53

In Summary


  • • The toolkit focuses on the trade between Africa, being the home of most trade wildlife species and Asia, the world's top consumer market and the meeting point for IWT. 
  • • It is also aimed at supporting financial institutions in addressing suspicious transactions relating to IWF and reporting them to the proper authorities. 
Najib Balala and Zac Goldsmith at Nairobi National Park

Tourism and Wildlife CS Najib Balala hosted United Kingdom's minister for the Pacific Int'l Environment, Climate and Animal welfare, Lord Zac Goldsmith at Nairobi National Park to celebrate World Wildlife Day.

During the Wednesday event, they launched a toolkit to help curb illegal wildlife trade in Africa and the White Rhino Recovery Plan to ensure Kenya achieves the restoration of Kenya's white rhino population.

Goldsmith, who was visiting Kenya for the UNEA5 conference, introduced the kit that makes it difficult for criminal networks to profit off wildlife trading.

The Illegal Wildlife Trade toolkit has been developed by the UK Serious and Organised Crime Network in collaboration with Themis, TRAFFIC and WWF.

The toolkit focuses on the trade between Africa, being the home of most trade wildlife species and Asia, the world's top consumer market and the meeting point for IWT. 

It is also aimed at supporting financial institutions in addressing suspicious transactions relating to IWF and reporting them to the proper authorities. 

"Wildlife is important in maintaining the eco-logical balance of nature. Diversity means healthier ecosystems." Balala said in a tweet. 

Balala further said that this year's theme; Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration, fits perfectly well with Kenya's plan to highlight the conservation for the critically endangered species and the solutions to be implemented for them to not go extinct.

"KWS has formulated over 20 national species strategies and action plans for implementation, including the Black Rhino, Elephant, Lion and spotted Hyena, Gravy's Zebra, mountain Bongo, Hirola, Roan and Sable antelopes, Coral Reefs among others. " he added. 

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