Kenya denies container loaded with ivory at port

KENYA’S wildlife officials on Thursday clarified that a 40-foot container reported in the media as having been intercepted with contraband ivory at the Port of Mombasa two weeks ago actually contained Ankole cattle horns.A statement from the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) said the finding of the cattle horns follows an independent verification by a joint team comprising KWS, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Port Police (Criminal Investigation Department) and journalists based in Mombasa. “Kenya Revenue Authority official discovered the unclaimed container on April 4 during a routine verification exercise before auction,” KWS said in a statement issued in Nairobi.The seizure of the container sparked condemnation from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) which warned that the seizure demonstrated a staggering illegal trade which threatens thecontinued survival and existence of elephants in Africa including Kenya. The conservation group said it was concerned about the increased elephant poaching incidences in Kenya and other countries where elephants range. “The consignment discovered in Mombasa is proof that elephants were not only killed somewhere, whether in Kenya or any other country, but also that Kenya has become an easy route for criminal gangs to traffic their illicit trophies to the markets,” IFAW said on April 11.

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Kenya denies container loaded with ivory at port