Detection Dogs Stop Ivory Traffickers

Ivory detection dogs deployed at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport led authorities to ivory hidden in luggage on four separate occasions last week. Trained by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and part of Kenya Wildlife Service’s (KWS’s) Canine Detection Unit, the dogs and their handlers found smuggled ivory in the luggage of four passengers, all traveling to China. Three of the arrested were en route to Guangzhou, where the Chinese government destroyed six tons of confiscated ivory last year. At least two of the travelers were transiting through Kenya from Ghana and Mozambique.

“Four ivory busts in one week is ridiculous,” said Dr. Philip Muruthi, vice president of species protection for the African Wildlife Foundation. “This should put all travelers attempting to smuggle wildlife products from Africa on alert. We are working toward zero tolerance for wildlife trafficking.”

Most of the seized ivory had already been fashioned into necklaces, bangles, rings and other ornaments, and in some cases had been stuffed into empty cigarette boxes. An impala skin was also seized.

Sources: http://www.awf.org/news/detection-dogs-stop-ivory-traffickers