Kenyan airport records high number of ivory seizures in 7 years

 The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the Kenyan capital Nairobi has recorded a high number of seizures of illegal ivory in the past years, said a report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) received Thursday.

According to the report, 51 of the 289 seizures of ivory in the past seven years to April this year at airports around the world were recorded at the Nairobi airport, making it the airport where the most cases took place.

Conservationists have said the findings show the Nairobi airport is a main transit route for trafficked wildlife products but are not indicative of runaway wildlife trafficking in Kenya.

IATA, which comprises Kenya Airways, has pledged to partner with governments and conservation organizations in the fight against illegal wildlife trade.

On April 30, Kenya torched 105 tonnes of elephant tusks in an effort to show its commitment to saving elephants.

Illegal wildlife trade is said to be one of the world's most lucrative criminal activities -- valued at billions of U.S dollars annually.

source : xinhua