WORTH SH1.5 MILLION

Suspected poacher arrested with 6 elephant tusks

The tusks were concealed in the suspect's house in Laikipia

In Summary
  • Police say poachers are still engaged in the crime despite the stringent measures put in place to address the same.
  • This has led to the killing of dozens of elephants amid ongoing campaigns against the menace.
The elephant tusks that were recovered in Laikipia on May 11, 2024- NPS
The elephant tusks that were recovered in Laikipia on May 11, 2024- NPS

A suspected poacher has been arrested with six elephant tusks in Kirima Olmoran, Laikipia county.

The suspect was arrested on Saturday after police raided his house at Olmoran shopping centre.

Police were alerted that the man was keeping the tusks in his house.

The six pieces of ivory, weighing 15 kg were concealed in two 90-kg and 50-kg sacks.

The suspect was detained awaiting to be arraigned on Monday May 13.

Police said the value of the consignment is estimated to be Sh1.5 million.

The officers suspect that the elephants were killed from the nearby parks in Laikipia.

The suspect will be charged with dealing in wildlife trophies of an endangered species without a permit or other lawful exemptions, contrary to Section 92(2) as read with Section 105(1) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013.

Poachers are still engaged in crime despite the stringent measures put in place to address the menace.

This has led to the killing of dozens of elephants amid ongoing campaigns against poaching.

Some of the suspects are facing charges in courts.

Elephant tusks fetch a fortune in the black market as a surge in demand for ivory in the East continues to fuel the illicit trade in elephant tusks.

Officials say despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers.

As part of efforts to stop the menace, Kenya has started using high-tech surveillance equipment, including drones, to track poachers and keep tabs on elephants and rhinos.

Kenya Wildlife Service and other stakeholders have put in place mechanisms to eradicate all forms of wildlife crime, particularly poaching.

These mechanisms include enhanced community education, interagency collaboration and intensive intelligence-led operations, among others.

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