By Phares Mutembei

Every day, poachers kill elephants for their tusks, which they smuggle to sell outside the country.

Dead elephants as a result are found in national parks, after being killed for their ivory. People in the villages also kill elephants for meat and for destroying their crop.

This has caused the number of Kenya’s elephants to reduce and it is important for that to stop, otherwise, before long, we will have no elephants!

Stephanie Nazi displays her drawing, which made her receive a special prize. [Photo: Phares Mutembei/Standard]

To prevent this from happening, children from different schools were recognised and awarded prizes by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in Nairobi for emerging winners in a national elephant protection competition.

IFAW, which works to protect wild and domestic animals and environments held the Animal Action Week where children took part in various activities to raise awareness on wildlife protection.

The theme for this year’s competition was "Elephants Never Forget". The children were involved in raising awareness on elephants, the biggest animal on land and also a remarkable creature due to the role it plays in the wild world.

Children showed remarkable creativity too. Stephanie Nazi’s drawing of an elephant’s skeleton amazed and impressed the judges hence she was awarded a special prize.

"Her drawing clearly showed the problem elephants face and if not solved may face extinction," IFAW’s Liz Wamba said.

The winners received book vouchers, T-shirts, bags, trophies, elephant toys and books on wildlife. They also earned certificates. IFAW uses the children’s artwork to produce calendars and other wildlife educational material.

"I love the elephant because it is so big. I always go to the parks to see wild animals and I love it the most," said Ali Yazan, who is seven years old and in Class Two at Oshwal Academy Nairobi Primary.

"But I love all animals. I have a pet male cat at home called Bruno. I like to take good care of it by giving it lots of milk, cat food and I play with it," he added.

Samay Shah of Braeburn Primary School also impressed the judges with his drawing of the elephant and took home a book voucher, trophy and other presents. His knowledge of the elephant is amazing.

"Poachers kill elephants for their tasks to go make jewellery and that is not good at all," said seven-year old Samay, who likes to paint and play computer games.

Kevin Maina and Ben Spyby both of Aga Khan Academy, Rachel Clarke of Kabete Junior Academy were also proud winners in the competition that runs every year.