Conservationists also pointed to the detrimental effects wildlife exportation could have on Kenya's tourism industry, the mainstay of the country's economy.
In 2004, the country earned 42 billion shillings (about $556 million) from the sector, which had been battered by travel warnings and fears of terrorism attacks.
"Stocking zoos in Thailand with our rare species has dire consequences for our tourism industry and development," said Ibrahim Ali, the coordinator for Wildlife Clubs of Kenya.
"We are now not simply exporting animals but also tourism out of this country," he added.
Name: Common Zebra, aka Burchell's Zebra (
Equus burchelli)
Primary Classification: Equidae (Horses)
Location: East, south, southwest Africa
Habitat: Grassland, savanna, and aridland
Diet: Mostly grasses, but also herbs, leaves, buds and twigs
Size: Up to 8 ft in length and 850 lbs in weight
Description: Black-and-white stripes; stripes are narrow, but broaden across rump; deep chest; long-haired tail
Cool Facts: The function of the zebra's stripes is a mystery; though some have suggested that they provide camouflage, and others that they make it difficult for a predator to single out an individual from the herd, neither of these explanations has been shown to be true.
Conservation Status: Common
