RESTRICTED
FM NAIROBI
TO ROUTINE MODUK
TELNO U/N
RESTRICTED
AMENDED DISTRIBUTION
OF 10065OZ AUGUST 1989
AND TO ROUTINE MODUK ARMY
INFO ROUTINE FCO, UKLF
Mr
HKCISI
sılı
(218)
017450
MDLIAN 2439
loyd.
SIC: 13D/A2G/BXA
MODUK FOR DCDS (C) D CTS (ROW) SEC(O)(C)
MODUK ARMY FOR MA/CGS DMO
FCO FOR EAD
х
POSSIBLE MOD ASSISTANCE TO THE KENYA WILDLIFE DEPT
1.
CONTACT WITH DR LEAKEY, NEWLY APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF KENYAN WILDLIFE DEPT (KWD), WAS EVENTUALLY ESTABLISHED AND LEAKEY LUNCHED AS GUEST OF HUGH SMITH 8 AUG: HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY
DR IAN DOUGLAS HAMILTON, A LEADEING EXPERT ON THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT. MAJ LORD VALENTINE CECIL, ON LEAVE IN KENYA, WAS ALSO PRESENT. BECAUSE SEVERAL BRANCHES HAVE SHOWN AN INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT AND BECAUSE OF SPECULATION IN BOTH THE UK AND KENYAN PRESS, THIS SIGNAL IS BEING GIVEN A WIDE DISTRIBUTION.
2 =
LEAKEY WAS SURPRISINGLY BULLISH ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR GAME CONSERVATION IN KENYA. THE NEXT TWO YEARS WOULD BE DIFFICULT AND HE NEEDED ASSISTANCE WITH MONEY AND MATERIAL NOW, BUT NOT WITH TRAINING FROM OUTSIDE KENYA.
3.
HE SAID THE FLOOD OF WORLD PUBLIC OPINION WAS FLOWING STRONGLY AGAINST THE IVORY TRADE, AND THIS WOULD SAVE THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT AS THE REVULSION AGAINST LEOPARD SKIN SKIN COATS HAD SAVED THE LEOPARD. EVEN COUNTRIES SUCH AS ZIMBABWE AND SOUTH AFRICA WOULD BE COMPELLED TO ACCEPT THAT A ''LEGAL IVORY TRADE COULD NOT BE DEFENDED. APPARENTLY, MUGABE HAD SAID THAT THE WILDLIFE DEPT IS NOT AUTHORISED TO SPEAK FOR ZIMBABWE ON MATTERS CONCERNING IVORY TRADING.
4..
HE WAS MORE SANGUINE ABOUT THE RHINO, AS THE STOCKS HAD FALLEN TO SUCH A LOW LEVEL. HE HAD HEARD THAT A DUTCH FIRM WAS DOING GOOD TRADE IN THE GULF SELLING SYNTHETIC HORNS. THE SAME COMPANY WAS DEVELOPING A NEW SYNTHETIC IVORY.
5. THE BILL ESTABLISHING THE KWD AS A PARASTATAL WOULD BE PUT BEFORE PARLIAMENT IN EARLY OCTOBER. THE ATTEMPT TO PASS THE LAW IN JULY HAD FAILED BECAUSE OF FAULTY DRAFTING. HE HOPED THAT HE WOULD BE PERMITTED TO FUNCTION AS A DE FACTO PARASTATAL IN ADVANCE
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