Mombasa, KENYA: The Kenya Wildlife Service has unveiled a Canine facility unit at the Mombasa Marine National Park, to enhance war against ivory trade at the Port.
The facility constructed with funding from African Wildlife Foundation comprises of sniffing dogs and game rangers and will help KWS be more efficient in dealing with ivory trade and poaching.
Speaking during the official commissioning of the facility KWS Director General Charles Musyoki, said coast is still a hot spot for ivory trade, so there is need to enforce capacity to KWS in fighting the trade.
“This project began in the year 2011 with only two sniffing dogs and two rangers, but with this kind of facility, this kind of highly trained dogs and rangers, ivory trade must go down,” said Charles.
According to African Wildlife Foundation Vice President Philip Muruthi, Mombasa Port is leading worldwide as a cover for ivory transport.
Muruthi said wildlife species have been on the decline, hence the need to stem efforts in fighting the trade.
“Since 1961 wildlife has been declining due to illegal activities, for example 35,000 elephants are killed in Africa annually, there is only 415,000 elephants left across the continent. Each day three rhinos are killed, so the need to enforce our efforts in stopping this trade,” said Muruthi.
They expressed interest in expanding such facilities in other newly established one stop border, like Lungalunga, Malaba, Namanga etc.
