Kenya confiscated two tons of ivory

Kenyan authorities discovered more than 600 pieces of ivory with a total volume of about two tons in a port city yesterday.

The demand for ivory is threatening the survival of elephants in Africa. (Photo: Newscientist)

Gitau Gitau, executive officer at the Port of Mombasa, Kenya, said customs officers confiscated all the ivory, but no one was arrested. They will use bills of lading related to ivory to track shipments, Telegraph reported.

'They claim that the shipment includes decorative stones. They come from Tanzania and will go to Indonesia , "a policeman joined the confiscation of ivory.

Two weeks ago Hong Kong authorities confiscated more than a ton of ivory from Kenya. The value of this ivory amounted to $ 1.4 million.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) prohibits trade in ivory. But the number of killing elephants for ivory in East African countries is increasing. Just last week, 11 elephants were murdered in Kenya's national park. Kenyan officials call this the most serious elephant massacre in the past three decades.

About 427,000 elephants live in Africa. Deforestation and poaching are threatening their survival.