KWS rangers kill one poacher, arrest seven others
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E-mail Xinhua, July 10, 2012
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said on Monday that its rangers have shot dead a suspected poacher and recovered three illegally held firearms in four separate incidents across the east African nation.
KWS Corporate Affairs Manager Paul Udoto said during the operation, seven suspected poachers were arrested during the incidents while three managed to escape.
Udoto said four suspected poachers were arrested and two rifles recovered from them in the first incident at Ngarenyiro in Laikipia County in central Kenya early on Monday. He said 302 rounds of ammunition were also recovered.
"The suspects, who were targeting to kill rhinos in Ol Pejeta and Solio ranches in Laikipia, were booked at Nanyuki Police Station. One of them has a pending case relating to wildlife crime and is out on bond. They will be arraigned before the Nanyuki court as soon as investigations are completed," he said.
The wildlife body has intensified its crackdown on poachers countrywide and has killed more than 10 poachers and arrested over 15 suspects in the past two months as it tries to protect its wildlife which is one of the country's foreign exchange earners.
The east African nation is a popular destination especially for tourists from Europe. The country is known for its great variety of wildlife, which includes elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, lions, cheetah and leopards. These animals are protected in national parks.
Udoto said a suspected poacher was shot dead early on the wee hours of Monday at Lower Imenti Forest and G3 rifle with five rounds of ammunition and a hack saw were recovered. He said the three accomplices escaped, one of them with injuries.
"The four were trailing an elephant that they had earlier darted with poisoned arrows. The elephant carcass was found with three arrows sticking on its body and the tusks were still intact, " Udoto said.
In the third poaching incident in Northern Tsavo East, Udoto said two suspected poachers were arrested with two pieces of ivory and three gin traps (a metallic mechanical trap with serrated edges designed to catch an animal by gripping the leg).
"It's an extremely inhuman way of killing wildlife as in most cases the animals end up with amputated legs after incredible suffering. The suspects will be arraigned before the Mutomo law court," Udoto said.
He added a suspected poacher was arrested and two poachers' ivory recovered in the fourth poaching incident near Northern Tsavo East in Tana River County.
Kenya is among countries in Africa where poaching is rampant despite the vice having been outlawed in the country in 1977.
Poachers target especially rhinos and elephants for their tusks and skins, which fetch a lot of money in the black market.
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