Kenya loses about 200-300 elephants every year to natural causes.
Two suspects have so far been arrested over Sunday's seizure of 317 pieces of raw elephant ivory weighing 2 tonnes and five rhino horns at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
The cargo which was falsely declared as containing only fresh avocado fruits was packed in 12 wooden boxes which raised a red flag due to its mode of package, weight and destination.
Investigations are continuing over the source and sender and recipient of the illegal cargo.
According to KWS authorities, most of the tusks seem to have been collected from natural deaths of about 150 elephants over the last 20 years with the latest likely to be six months old.
None of the tusks had the indelible ink used for marking government held stocks.
DNA tests will be conducted to determine the tusks actual origin.
The seizure and arrests was a joint operation involving the Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Revenue Authority, Lusaka Agreement Task Force, the Kenya Police and the Trans-global Warehouse security personnel.
This year, wildlife contraband which has been exported to these destinations has been intercepted in Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong (China).
The seizure is so far the largest elephant ivory recovery in Kenya in the recent past which has caused great concern to law enforcers and conservationists.
According to KWS records, in 2007, the number of illegally killed elephants stood at 47, in 2008 at 94 while in 2009 they stood at 204, representing sharp increase in poaching.
On the other hand, rhino poaching numbers in 2008 stood at five compared to 13 in 2009.
Kenya loses about 200-300 elephants every year to natural causes
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