News courtesy of Business Daily
November 18th 2008
Countries step up war against poachingMore than 50 suspects have been arrested this year as regional countries step up efforts against illegal trade in wildlife and their products.
A joint operation involving Kenya, Congo-Brazaville, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia since June has seen conservancy officials recover 1,000 kilogrammes of ivory in powder form and carvings as well as hippo teeth.
Leopards, serval cats, cheetahs and pythons skins were also recovered in the four-month crackdown dubbed Operation Baba — in honour of a Ghanaian ranger who was killed by poachers.
Thirty six of the 57 suspects were caught in Kenya and 113 pieces of ivory, weighing 358 kilogrammes recovered, said Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) deputy director of security, Peter Leitoro.
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