Kenya's ivory stockpile has increased on average by 11,300 kg per year since the 106 tonne ivory burn in 2016.
November 28th, 2023: In a recently released gazette notice dated November 20th and signed by the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Alfred N. Mutua, Kenya declared that its ivory stockpile sits at 98,753 kg from a 2022 audit. It also has 1125.75 kg of rhino horn.
This is a seized ivory increase of 42,870 kg since a 2017 audit that indicated through a 2019 gazette notice, that the secure stockpile contained 55,883 kg. The same 2019 gazette notice indicated 419 kg of stockpiled rhino horn. There has been a 706 kg increase in seized rhino horn in the last five years.
After the ivory burn of 2016, Kenya was left with approximately 25,000 kg of ivory in its stockpile. It was said at the time that the amount remaining was for investigational and educational purposes.
Over the 6 1/2 years between the ivory burn and the latest 2022 audit, the ivory stockpile has increased by approximately 73,753 kg or an average increase of 11,300 kg per year.
The reasons for the increase are attributed to a number of reasons including; natural causes (including a recent debilitating drought), poaching and trafficking including ivory whose origins were outside Kenya, and human-wildlife conflict.
State declares ivory, Rhino horn stockpile for 2022 (Kenya)
