China Donates Equipment to Anti-Poaching Efforts

[James.Grage]

Kenya: China Donates Equipment to Anti-Poaching Efforts

http://www.focac.org/eng/zxxx/t1312317.htm

Nairobi — China on Wednesday has donated 18 double-cabin pickups and security equipments worth 537,000 U.S. dollars to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to strengthen wildlife protection in national parks.

"China's donation is part of the country's international cooperation in protecting wildlife," Chinese Economic and Commercial Counselor in Nairobi Guo Ce said during the handing over ceremony.

The donation is part of the promises made by Chinese premier Li Keqiang when he visited Kenya in May 2014.

Guo said that the Chinese government has embarked on protecting wildlife and biodiversity and is currently discouraging the use of ivory as art in the country.

He revealed that the Chinese mainland destroyed 6.2 tonnes of ivory while Hong Kong destroyed 28 tonnes last year.

"China appreciates Kenya's role in protecting wildlife and is ready to share experience so that conservation efforts could be upscale," Guo noted.

He revealed that Beijing has started a training program that will enable both Kenyan and Chinese officials to learn conservation efforts.

"We appreciate the Chinese government's continued assistance to our country in diverse areas including the fight against poaching," Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Authorities Professor Judy Wakhungu said.

Wakhungu said that the donation will aid KWS security arm to stem wildlife crimes, saying the equipments and vehicles will provide assistance to the newly recruited rangers in the conservation of wildlife.

"The donation will be used prudently and with care to help save wildlife from poachers in the country," Wakhungu added.

The Acting KWS Director General Julius Kimani said that the KWS will require additional vehicles to help protect the 127 field stations that cover eight conservation areas in the country.

He observed that the number of rangers today stand at 4,000 but it is expected to increase to help in the fight against illegal trade and poaching in the national parks.

According to Elephant Neighbours Centre, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania has lost 82,577 elephants between 2002 and 2013 from a population of 134,506.

 

[gillettehunter]

Makes you wonder.... Still any help in the fight against poaching will help. Bruce

 

[richteb]

Makes me wonder what the Chinese are taking in return???

 

[Brent in Az]

China is one of the main destinations for illegal ivory.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

A ban on Ivory products in China, would have gone so much further.

 

[paladin100]

There are many good things here, but - and is there always a but? - this is merely another manifestation of the creeping Chinese colonialism in Africa. Being a Brit from sunny Scotland I know that we are often criticised for our role in the world and our accumulation of colonies. Times change. Not in Africa though. All that is happening is that several colonial powers are being exchanged for one big one who, when the day comes, will not say, "sorry we realise now that this is an unacceptable situation and we will leave the country to be governed by its people", but will merely ignore world opinion, move more people from China into the country and take over. Look at the number of prisoners being dumped already. They don't go home at the end of their sentence. Look at all the schemes China is involved in. "Can't pay?" "Oh well we can't take it away, we'll just stay."
It's happening as I write.