Elephant conservation news 11 - 18 SeptemberThe Zambian Government is trying to reclaim 6.5 tonnes of illegal ivory being kept by Kenyan wildlife officials, the Daily Nation reports.
The ivory was seized by Zambian and Malawian wildlife officials in Singapore in 2002 and has since been kept at the headquarters of the Kenya Wildlife Service.
DNA tests established that the ivory came from elephants in Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania.
Zambia's minister of tourism, environment and natural resources has called on the task force to release the ivory and said that she hopes to "get some resolutions before the end of the year".
Will Travers of the Born Free Foundation told elephant.co.uk news of the group's concerns that Zambia "wishes to seek approval to trade the ivory, almost certainly adding to the basket of woes that flow from this bloody business".
"If Zambia wants the ivory back then let them be explicit about the reason behind their demand," he said.
"If it is to fuel their well-known desire to sell their ivory stockpile to international buyers then their request should, in our view, be denied. If it is to put the ivory permanently beyond use then Zambia is to be applauded."
Elephant corridor boost in Eastern India
State officials in Eastern India have announced plans to manage 'elephant corridors', seven years after central Government requested that action be taken, according to the Kalinga Times.
The Odisha Government said this week that it would prepare an elephant corridor management plan in the next six months. Nine elephant migratory corridors have been identified for inclusion in the plan, which is designed to allow elephants to move safely between protected areas and reduce conflict between the animals and humans.
According to central Government officials, rapid industrialisation and population growth in the area, which is home to 74% of Eastern India's elephant population, has lead to de-forestation and fragmentation of the links between forests.
