Nairobi — Kenya is preparing a strong defence against a proposal to legalise trade in ivory and rhino horns.

The stand aimed at saving diminishing species from poachers is expected to meet opposition from other countries, including Tanzania with which it shares a population of the wild animals.

Wildlife minister Noah Wekesa called on the global community to sustain the ban and faulted Tanzania for coming up with the proposal to be discussed at next year's Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Doha.

The minister said Kenya was not consulted by her neighbour yet the two countries share Serengeti-Tsavo West-Mkomazi and Amboseli-Kilimanjaro parks, in which many of the species are found.

"By Tanzania going that route yet we have shared ecosystems, Kenya is likely to lose more rhinos and elephants to poachers," said Dr Wekesa.

Head of species conservation and management at the Kenya Wildlife Service, Mr Patrick Omondi, said Kenya had lost 214 elephants to poachers in 2008 compared to 47 in 2007 as a result of an experimental approval by CITES on a one- off sale of ivory.

"Our experience has shown that trade in ivory and rhino horns stimulates illegal killings," he said.

Dr Wekesa was speaking at Ol Pejeta after receiving four of the world's last known remaining eight northern white rhinos. They were relocated from the Czech republic.