Three arrested as rangers impound tusks, game meat
The Standard
January 10, 2011
President Kibaki cuts a cake during a thanks-giving service for the disciplined forces at the Holy Family Basilica, NairBy Renson Mnyamwezi and Antony Gitonga
Kenya Wildlife Service personnel have recovered 10 elephant tusks at a ranch near Tsavo National Park.The game trophies were from five elephants killed at Taita Ranch bordering Tsavo East National Park.
KWS officials said the tusks were reportedly being transported to Mombasa for export.
Tsavo East acting senior warden Jason Lesimirdana said the poachers opened fire when confronted.
The incident came barely a month after KWS rangers arrested five suspected poachers and recovered game meat at Kuranze near the Tsavo West National Park.
Speaking to The Standard after the recovery of the tusks, the warden said KWS had intensified patrols.
Two days ago, KWS recovered eight tusks worth more than Sh2.5 million in Eastern Province as the war on poaching intensified.
In Naivasha, two suspects were arrested by KWS officers with Zebra meat. They were allegedly selling the meat to unsuspecting public.
The warden in charge at Hellsgate National Park Nelly Palmeris said tens of suspects were arrested with game meat in the last two months.
Rangers also smashed a syndicate in which wildlife is slaughtered in Tsavo and meat sold at nearby towns.
KWS officials arrested a suspected poacher and impounded more than 40 dik diks worth Sh400,000. The personnel also recovered a motorbike used to transport the game meat.
KWS officers expressed concern some wildlife species face extinction due to widespread poaching.
Speaking on the telephone, Lesimirdana, however, said poaching was rampant in ranches and not in the ecosystem. "The suspect was found ferrying the consignment to Malindi on a motorbike," said the official.
Article at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000026444&cid=159
Kenya has been identified as one of the last remaining strongholds for the cheetah, making it an essential refuge for the future of the species. In 1990, the population of cheetahs in and surrounding Kenya’s protected areas was estimated at 793, of this amount, 55% was generated from Tsavo (Gros 1998). We are evaluating the population and conservation status of cheetahs in the greater Tsavo ecosystem and implementing long-term conservation solutions, in order to ensure their long-term survival.
