ADDIS ABABA: Former NBA star Yao Ming is in Kenya to film a video aimed at helping bring awareness to the world, and China in particular, against the illegal poaching of Kenya's elephant and rhino populations. The Chinese and former Houston Rockets center has been in Kenya since August 10 to film the video aimed at convincing Chinese citizens to end their desire for ivory and rhino horns in the hopes of curtailing the illegal killing of two of Africa's most important animals. Already this year, at least 281 rhinos have been slaughtered in Africa, largely for their horns, which are then sent to China and Vietnam. Both countries' citizens believe the horns, when ground down, have medicinal value. Activists have told Bikyamasr.com that this belief is to be fought using PR and awareness campaigns in Vietnam as part of global efforts to end poaching. Ming is meeting with local scientists and conservationists and will begin filming the advertisement in the East African country, The Associate Press reported. Julius K. Kipng'etich, the director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, gave Yao a tour of one of the organization's rooms filled with ivory from poached elephants. Kip, as the director is known, said Thursday that he hopes Yao takes back the message to China to say that when Chinese people buy ivory, they are helping lead elephants to extinction.
