Poachers kill rhino at Mara Game Reserve and dehorn it

By KIPCHUMBA KEMEI and BOAZ KIPNGENO

Maasai Mara, Kenya: Poachers have killed a male black rhino in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve and removed its horns.

The rhino, which had in December last year been ear-notched and a microchip installed in its horn by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for movement monitoring purposes, was shot dead yesterday at around 6pm, 5km to Governors Camp inside the park.

KWS Narok Senior Warden Bernard Koruta said those who killed it escaped on foot, adding that a crack unit has been deployed to track them. “Those who killed it escaped towards Transmara. We have deployed the crack unit and sniffer dogs to track them,” he said and asked locals to assist in the exercise.

Koruta said the matter was reported to his office by a tour driver, who stumbled on the carcass while on a game drive, adding sleuths from the Scene of Crime Unit were also deployed to assist in identifying the type of weapon that was used in the killing.

The killing has reduced the number of black rhinos from the documented 50 to 49. Another one was killed at Ngama area inside the park in 2009.

A ranger, who had been detailed to guard the animals, was arrested and charged with the killings. “The fact that the animal was killed inside the protected area raises serious question about where those responsible for monitoring rhino movements were. They should be held responsible,” said Sammy Nkoitoi, an official with Maasai Wildlife Conservancies Association.  Meanwhile, an elephant anti-poaching campaign team has set up an initiative in Samburu East against the killing of elephants.

Confessed poachers

The Save the Elephants team arrived at Lodokejek in Samburu East on Wednesday for an extensive anti-poaching campaign.According to Samburu East Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Senior Warden Jeremiah Kurgat, who is leading the officials, the 15-member group will engage communities from Kirisia forest to Kirimon and Lodung’okwe. “The aim is to sensitise the communities on importance of saving elephants,” said Kurgat.