Kenya likely to be removed from CITES list The estimated elephant population is 53 949, which is above the ecological carrying capacity of approximately 15 000 elephants, yet there are some who are crying foul over their exportation

NAIROBI. — Kenya is on course to be removed from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list related to illegal trade in ivory, wildlife officials said on Sunday.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Head of CITES Implementation Solomon Kyalo told Xinhua in Nairobi that Kenya is among eight countries of primary concern with respect to illegal trade of ivory and poaching of elephants. “As a result of a series of measures put in place to curb elephant poaching and illegal trade in ivory, Kenya is likely to be removed from the list during the upcoming CITES meeting to be held later this year,” Kyalo said.

South Africa is set to host the 17th Conference of Parties of CITES later this year.

Kyalo said Kenya delivered a report of the progress it has made towards curbing illegal trade in wildlife products and elephant poaching in January to the CITES Standing Committee.

He said so far Kenya has not been asked to make any further reports, while other nations have been requested to provide additional information on measures they have instituted to curb illegal ivory trade. — Xinhua.

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