Kenya employs 1,000 rangers to combat elephant poaching

The Kenyan government said it would take strong sanctions against poachers and smugglers of ivory to protect the animal.

"We will fight poachers at all levels to save our elephants ," said Muthui Kariuki government spokesman.

The bodies of three elephants were murdered by poachers in mid-January this year in Kenya. (Photo: BBC)

Kariuki explained that the powers of Kenyan courts are limited in the application of imprisonment or administrative sanctions against those prosecuted for this crime.

" One of our main challenges is that penalties and fines are too light," the spokesman added .

To solve this problem, the Kenyan government will review policies and laws on wildlife with the aim of imposing fine and imprisonment penalties. On the other hand, the government allowed the recruitment of 1,000 more forest rangers.

Currently, the maximum penalties for the most serious environmental crimes are a fine of 40,000 Kenyan shillings, equivalent to 470 USD and 10 years in prison.

Last month, a Chinese smuggler arrested in Kenya with 439 ivory was fined about 265 euros. Experts say ivory is traded for about $ 2,500 / kg on the black market.

Poaching has increased significantly in recent years in East Africa with the killing of elephants for ivory.

According to official figures, last year poachers in Kenya killed 384 elephants, while in 2011 this number was 289. Since the beginning of the year, 74 elephants have been killed.