Kenya is set to hold an elephant naming ceremony aimed at promoting conservation.

The festival was launched on Monday by the tourism minister and will culminate in an official ceremony on 12 August during the World Elephant Day.

Well wishers will be required to contribute funds for conservation and will be given a chance to adopt an elephant and give it a name.

The elephants' second names will be given by elders from the Maasai community based on history and profile.

The ceremony will be held at the Amboseli national park that is home to more than 3,000 elephants out of the country's total population of more than 34,000, according to the wildlife service.

Kenya is in the process of conducting its first ever census of all its wildlife to provide crucial data for conservation.

Elephants are at risk of poaching because of their tusks.