Wildlife ranger shot dead in Western Kenya
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E-mail Xinhua, August 30, 2012
Suspected poachers have shot dead one wildlife ranger in anti-poaching operation in Trans Nzoia county of Western Kenya as authorities stepped up anti-poaching measures across the country, officials said on Wednesday.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the shooting ensued when rangers had encountered the poachers slaughtering an elephant in the dense forest while on patrol. KWS said during the anti- poaching operation two of the poachers who escaped with injuries are being pursued in adjacent areas.
The wildlife agency has decried widespread poaching incidents which have forced its rangers to embrace the use of modern technologies under its force modernization program to counter the problem and other poaching-related threats.
KWS has also introduced the Canine Unit with sniffer dogs on a 24-hour basis at the Jomo Kenyatta in Nairobi and Moi International Airport in Mombasa to detect movements of illegal ivory. The unit has since 2009 netted more than eight tons of raw and worked ivory.
This, according to the wildlife agency, has effectively led to reduced smuggling of illegal trophies. Plans are also at an advanced stage by KWS to also introduce sniffer dogs at the country's main airports as well as other exit and entry points.
Stiffer penalties related to wildlife crime have been incorporated under the proposed wildlife law to deter poaching- related cases and incidents in Kenya.
The KWS whose renewed anti-poaching operations has borne fruit as the number of elephants lost to poachers has dropped from a high of 36 a month in January to 16 in April said 33 suspected poachers have also been arrested across the country in the past one week.
"In Makindu area, a poacher was arrested and a leopard skin recovered on Aug. 22. An estimated 2,500 heads of cattle were driven out of Tsavo National Park and five suspects arrested on Aug. 23," the statement said.
KWS rangers also arrested three suspects, recovered 25 kilograms of Waterbuck meat in Tudani area in Kitui County.
KWS recently commissioned the construction of a wildlife forensic and genetics laboratory at its headquarters in Nairobi.
The lab is envisaged to help investigators connect exhibits to specific poaching incidents.
The facility will help track genetic status of declining wildlife populations, determine isolated and special gene pools that require special protection and enhance disease diagnosis, surveillance and monitoring.
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