§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any requests for assistance have been received from countries attempting to safeguard elephant populations.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThere have been no recent requests for such assistance; but we are already actively assisting the Government of Kenya and stand ready to discuss further support for wild life conservation, including the safeguarding of elephant populations, with the Governments concerned.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is now being given to African countries to combat the poaching of elephants; and what is his latest information about current levels of the elephant population in Africa.
§ Mr. Chris PattenIn Kenya we are currently funding a wildlife adviser and two game wardens in the wildlife department as part of our technical co-operation programme with the Government of Kenya. Nineteen lorries for use in anti-poaching activities have also been provided. The possibility of further assistance with the rehabilitation of vehicles, equipment and training for conservation activities is under discussion.
We are also providing assistance for wildlife conservation under the joint funding scheme with British voluntary agencies in Cameroon, Liberia, Zambia and Nepal; and we are contributing El million to the World Wide Fund for Nature to assist the fund in activities to conserve natural resources including wild life.
There are no reliable figures for the current elephant population in Africa. In 1979 the estimated total population was 1.3 million. In the last decade this is thought to have fallen to 750,000 or fewer. According to some estimates the figure lies between 300,000 and 400,000.