Virgin Airlines In Kenya To Protect African Elephant

Virgin Airlines marked their first flight into Kenya with a vow to protect the African elephant. Richard Branson wants to help save the endangered 2,000 elephants from encroachment.

The airline company is planning on funding a trail for the animals to safely make it to natural path north of the snow-capped mountain. The surge of small farms in the country has cut off pathways for the large mammals to roam their centuries-old migratory routes. "The African elephant has roamed across the continent from South Africa to the Mediterranean coast but its population is under serious threat," Branson told reporters gathered in a tent by the runway at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

"We can create a vital lifeline for the entire animal and human population in the region."

The human encroachment is partly to blame of the dwindling elephant population. Kenya once boasted on having over 10,000 elephants. That number is down to merely 2,000. Offering a daily flight between Heathrow and Nairobi, Virgin hopes to soon offer a second daily flight. "It is about striking a balance between the need to combat poverty and the dangers of carbon emissions," he said. Virgin planes would boost the local economy by carrying fresh produce like fruit, vegetables and cut flowers to Western markets.

"There is global warming but there is also extreme poverty."