Wildlife officials recovered more than 200 kilograms (450 pounds) of illegal zebra and wildebeest meat early Saturday and were investigating claims that it was bound for a market in Kenya's capital, officials said. Three people were charged with poaching and illegal trade in wildlife meat, The Associated Press quoted police as saying. The meat was being transported in a minibus in «unhygienic» conditions, Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udoto said. The truck was stopped before dawn during a police check just outside Nairobi. «This is a big threat to human consumption,» Udoto told The Associated Press, citing the risk of anthrax and the hemorrhagic sickness Rift Valley fever. «It has not been inspected by veterinary officials.» One of the suspects said they were going to pass off the meat as beef at a market in Nairobi, Udoto said. Slaughtering wildlife is illegal in Kenya. The government banned sport hunting in 1977, but allowed limited hunting to cull animals and harvest game meat until 2003, when animal rights groups managed to shut it down. Nairobi Mayor Dick Wathika said officials were investigating the case to ensure food safety. «I wish to assure Nairobians that no meat will be served to them uninspected,» he said.
