Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has revealed that since 2008 to date, authorities have seized 18 elephant tusks in transit, being trafficked through Rwanda.
The trafficking in ivory in and through Rwanda has been low compared to other countries where selective killing of elephants for ivory is rampant.
As the world celebrates World Environment Day on 5th June, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has proposed reflect on the best practices and actions of stopping illegal trade in wild animals.
During a press briefing held at the end of last week launching the environment week, the chief tourism officer at RDB, Faustin Karasira said that trade in elephant tusks is almost absent in Rwanda since there is no recorded case of poaching elephants for ivory.
He however noted that 18 tusks were seized in transit through Rwanda.
“Trade in wild animals is an international concern. It has increased in the past five years especially affecting elephants and rhinoceros. Rwanda has refused to become a transit route for ivory traffickers and has since 2008 seized 18 tusks from such smugglers,” he said.
Karasira says that the increase of such trade results from poor understanding and inadequate mobilizations since citizens in some countries like China knew that elephant tusks are grown and harvested like fruits.
The acting director general of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Collette Ruhamya said that declining to buy materials made from parts of wild animals would defeat demand and poachers.
Illegal trade of animals emerges at the 3rd place among international crimes after drugs and human trafficking.
In April, 2016, the president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta burnt more than 15 tons of elephant tusks seized from poachers.
Tusks of elephants are sold to rich countries from Asia and Europe to be used in making personal ornaments among other items.
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