KWS moves 21 rhinos to new sanctuary
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E-mail Xinhua, September 3, 2013
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on Monday said it has successfully translocated 21 black rhinos from a national park to a sanctuary in northwest Kenya.
KWS spokesman Paul Mbugua said 10 rhinos were translocated from the Nakuru National Park and 11 others from Lewa Conservancy to Borana Ranch in Laikipia.
"The week-long exercise was completed on Sunday and we managed to move 21 rhinos from Nakuru National Park and Lewa Conservancy. We completed the exercise on Sunday," Mbugua told Xinhua.
KWS Assistant Director Central Rift Conservation Area Jonathan Kirui had earlier said the week-long exercise was funded by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
"The space for grazers is reducing by the day. However, the KWS is working to create more space for the animals," Kirui said.
Rhinos are among the big five most sought after species by the illegal poachers due to their pricey horns. According to the KWS, there are about 643 black rhinos and 450 white rhinos in the East African country.
The movement of the species, Kirui said, protects them from extinction while providing ample breeding space for remaining mates at the Lake Nakuru National Park.
"The translocation is aimed at reducing the high rate of breeding at the park which if not checked, will ultimately lead to a food crisis in the protected area," Kirui said.
The KWS official said the area of the park is minimal compared to the breeding rate of rhinos among other wildlife.
The 188 square km premium park located in Nakuru County, within the Rift Valley region, was established in 1984 as rhino sanctuary.
Last month, a poacher killed a white rhino at Nairobi National Park and made away with its horns.
According to the KWS, the killing of the white rhino is the first such poaching incident in the park in the last six years and brings the number of rhinos killed across the country since January to 35.
Last year, 29 rhinos were killed by poachers across the country. In addition to the rhinos, the Lake Nakuru National Park has more than 5,000 grazers that include zebras, gazelles, hippopotamus, giraffes and warthogs.
The Nakuru National Park has few predators and has seen an increase in the number of herbivores which has led to increased competition for biomass.
The park has also been affected adversely by flooding due to the heavy rains in the area which has destroyed feeding grounds for most of the grazers.
It serves as a breeding ground to replenish rhino stocks at other national parks and private wildlife conservancies in the East African state.
The rhino population growth rate at the Lake Nakuru National Park stands at 1 percent while the rhino population in the country currently stands at 1,025, 631 being black and 394 white.
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