3 Chinese carrying ivory are questioned in Kenya

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The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 16, 2008; 11:27 AM

NAIROBI, Kenya -- Three Chinese citizens were arrested Wednesday at Nairobi's international airport carrying dozens of pieces of ivory, including chopsticks, bracelets and carved figurines.

The two women and one man had about 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) of ivory, said Kentice Tikomo, a spokesman for the Kenyan Wildlife Service. They were scheduled to appear in court later Wednesday on charges of trafficking in ivory, which carries up to three years in prison, Tikomo said.

Kenya's elephant population has grown from 16,000 to 27,000 since the U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species banned the ivory trade in 1989. But that is far fewer than the estimated 167,000 elephants Kenya had in 1973, before poaching devastated the country's herds.

There is a huge demand for ivory in China. On Tuesday, the U.N. granted China permission to import some ivory from African government stockpiles despite opposition from some environmental groups. Kenya was not among those countries.

Much of the ivory destined for China is carved into jewelry and ornaments bought by tourists.

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Jean-Louis Kayitenkore
Procurement Consultant
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