Kenya: Locals Armed to Help Stop Elephant Poachers

By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Permalink | No Comments | January 2nd, 2013 | Trackback

Faced with the decimation of their remaining elephants—and arguably, their nation’s largest tourist attraction—the government is supporting a grassroots anti-poaching program that trains and arms groups of local men, including some former poachers. The black market price of ivory has soared in Asia over the last decade, driving Kenya’s worst poaching crisis since 1989. Many wildlife conservationists agree that rallying local support is critical, and not just for the animals’ survival. While a small number of criminals profit from the ivory trade, local communities benefit more from live elephants—and the tourists who come to see them.

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