Chinese research body to aid Kenya's anti-poaching efforts

NAIROBI - A Chinese research institute said on Wednesday it has commenced discussions with Kenya's wildlife body to explore technical cooperation in the fight against poaching of iconic mammals.

Senior officials from Shanghai Advanced Research Institute (SARI) held discussions in Nairobi with their counterparts from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in order to advance strategic technical cooperation in wildlife protection.

Feng Songlin, president of SARI, said provision of appropriate anti-poaching technology will underpin cooperation with Kenya's wildlife body.

"We have conducted research on anti-poaching technologies that would be beneficial to Kenya's wildlife authority," Feng told Xinhua, adding that Sino-Kenya partnership in wildlife protection has reached a new level.

As an affiliate of the Chinese Academy Sciences (CAS), SARI has been at the forefront conducting groundbreaking research that can strengthen biodiversity conservation.

Feng said that SARI and other partners have developed state of the art anti-poaching technology that would help revolutionalize the war against this menace in Kenya and the eastern African region.

"Since 2015, we have been holding discussions with officials from Kenya Wildlife Service and have showcased technologies that could boost anti-poaching activities in the country," said Feng.

He revealed that SARI and partners have developed an all-weather comprehensive anti-poaching vehicle that could help track and report movement of poachers in real time.

"This technology is unique and holistic. It integrates wireless communication and infrared cameras to help detect and report movement of poachers," Feng told Xinhua.

He added that Kenyan and Tanzanian wildlife authorities are keen to acquire the vehicle to halt slaughter of giant mammals for their trophies.

China's support towards anti-poaching initiatives in Kenya has increased since the state visit to the east African nation by Premier Li Keqiang in May 2014.