![\"Kenya](\"http:\/\/planetark.org\/images\/wefull\/60809.jpg\")
A Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officer stands guard near a shipment of elephant tusks and rhino horns intercepted at the Jomo Kenyatta international airport in the capital Nairobi, August 23, 2010.
Photo: Thomas Mukoya <\/p>\n
A Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officer stands guard near a shipment of elephant tusks and rhino horns intercepted at the Jomo Kenyatta international airport in the capital Nairobi, August 23, 2010.
Photo: Thomas Mukoya <\/p>\n
Kenya has recovered 81 elephant tusks in the northern part of the country where it is trying to contain a new wave of poaching, officials said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Weighing 249 kg and valued at 2.5 million shillings ($30,830), the tusks and two rhino horns were recovered by a special team of rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service and detectives in a Friday night operation.<\/p>\n
Security officials said six rounds of ammunition, two pairs of night vision binoculars, two jungle rangers‘ uniforms and a rifle scope were recovered from three people who were arrested.<\/p>\n
Senior Warden Aggrey Maumo, who was involved in the operation said nine rhinos have been killed in the region over the past one year.<\/p>\n
"At least 20 rhinos were killed across the country since early last year. Northern Kenya reported the highest incidents because poachers killed nine rhinos and a huge number of elephant herds over the past year but we had a breakthrough yesterday and managed to recover this consignment," Maumo said.<\/p>\n
The regional administrator for Marsabit district David Rotich said a number of former Ethiopian rebel group Oromo Liberation Front fighters were engaged in poaching of elephants, adding that the government has reinforced security officers around Mountain Marsabit to protect animals.<\/p>\n
Kenya’s wildlife, which draws tourists from around the world has suffered from poaching, severe drought and floods in recent years.<\/p>\n
by Noor Ali<\/p>\n
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