Chinese face Kenyan court over ivory smuggling claim

By Andrew Ross

NAIROBI, Kenya

Three Chinese nationals appeared in court in Kenya on Monday, accused of trying to smuggle ivory and lion teeth.

They were arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as they were being screened for a China-bound flight, local media reported.

The arrests came as Kenya prepares to incinerate the largest ivory and rhino horn stockpile ever destroyed. More than 120 tons from at least 4,000 animals, mostly elephants, will be torched as part of the drive to deter poaching and the multi-billion dollar market that fuels it.

China is one of the leading markets for ivory and, according to the UN, Chinese demand for ivory leads to the deaths of around 30,000 African elephants annually.