PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thousands of Kenyans March for Wildlife
NAIROBI, April 13, 2019: Thousands of people from all walks of life today joined conservation partners and the government to raise their voices against extinction and champion the protection of wildlife in what is considered to be the biggest Global March For Elephants, Rhinos, Lions and other endangered species. Global March is an annual worldwide event that takes place in more than 130 countries – including Kenya – which hosted the largest march in the world in 2017.
In Nairobi, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), WildlifeDirect and Stand Up Shout Out (SUSO) have partnered with more than 20 conservation partners to organize this year’s Nairobi edition. The theme for the 2019 march is ‘No Market No Trade’, advocating for the closure of both domestic and international markets, and the ban on all trade whether legal or illegal in lion bones, pangolin scales, elephant ivory, rhino horn and trophy imports.
The 2018 Nairobi Global March for Elephants, Rhinos and Lions was postponed in order to highlight this year’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) CoP18, to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from May 23 to June 3. This is an international agreement between governments, which aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. We urge all Parties to adopt the recommended revisions to Resolution Conf. 9.14 (Rev. CoP17) and the proposed Decisions presented in CoP18 Doc. 83.2 submitted by Kenya. The revisions to the Resolution would inter alia (1) urge Parties to close all domestic markets for raw and worked rhinoceros horn or other rhinoceros parts and derivatives as a matter of urgency; and (2) urge Parties to consider the destruction of stockpiles of rhinoceros horns as a management option. The proposed Decisions would require Parties to report on their implementation of the Resolution to determine the resultant impacts on reducing rhinoceros poaching and illegal trade.”
The demand for ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales and other wildlife products in the Asian market continues to be a growing concern and threat to the existence of wildlife. The march calls upon governments, the civil society, grass root communities and all stakeholders to be proactive and collaborative in order to ensure the survival of elephants, rhinos and other endangered species.
Special thanks to the Government of Kenya, County Government of Nairobi, National Police Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, National Museums of Kenya, Kenya Tourism Board, Global March for Elephants and Rhinos (GMFER), Environmental Investigative Agency, Mara Elephant Project, Wildlife Works, Save The Elephants, African Wildlife Foundation, Gamewatchers Safaris, Kenya Wine Agency LTD, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Grevy’s Zebra Trust, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Ewaso Lions, Safarilink, Tsavo Trust, African Conservation Centre, Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, Born Free Foundation, Aga Khan University, Africa Network for Animal Welfare, Resolution Insurance, CFAO Group in Kenya, Stand Up Shout Out and WildlifeDirect for supporting in this year’s GMFER Nairobi edition.
ENDS/
For more information, please contact:
Trish Sewe – WildlifeDirect
+254 (0) 705 515 709
Paul Gathitu – Kenya Wildlife Service
+254 (0) 723 333 313
About Global March for Elephants and Rhinos (www.march4elephantsandrhinos.org)
The Global March for Elephants and Rhinos (GMFER) is a worldwide call to action to condemn the poaching of wildlife and the trafficking of wildlife trophies. This global movement calls upon governments, the civil society, grassroots communities and all stakeholders to be proactive and collaborative in order to ensure the survival of elephants and rhinos. GMFER -Nairobi edition was first held in Kenya in 2014 by WildlifeDirect and SUSO. Over time the March has also shone light on other endangered species including lions and now pangolins as well as other species being proposed for listings in CITES Appendices I & II.