Two poachers killed, elephant tusks recovered

By ALI ABDI

Two suspected poachers were killed and elephant tusks recovered during a security operation at Mulango area in Isiolo County.

In an operation involving security officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the police, a G3 rifle and 12 rounds of ammunition were recovered.

The area is located between Buffalo Springs national reserve and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

Isiolo OCPD Daniel Kamanza said the two suspected poachers were gunned down by the security team after they engaged the officers in a shootout, in which both died on the spot.

‘‘Police and KWS officers encountered the two poachers while they were patrolling Burat location. They were killed after an exchange of fire,’’ said Kamanza.

The team later recovered assorted items used by poachers who had recently stepped up the illegal poaching targeting the private conservancy and game parks in Isiolo and Samburu counties.

The items found at the scene included two torches, weighing scale, an axe and a rifle case, among others.

Mr Kamanza and KWS senior warden in charge of operation Paul Kipkoech said an operation to flush out poachers targeting the wildlife sanctuaries was ongoing.

They appealed to wananchi to help authorities in the fight against poaching by providing information on suspicious people in their midst.

“Ten elephants were killed in Isiolo Central Division and their tusks removed in the last one month, which necessitated the operation against poaching,” said the police officer.

He said four black rhinos were also killed in the neighbouring Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Meru County last November.

‘‘We have increased security surveillance in the parks and other areas prone to poaching,’’ said Kipkoech.

Kamanza revealed that a suspect who used to work at Lewa Conservancy was arrested for providing crucial information on location of rhinos at the sanctuary and how security patrols were conducted to the poachers.

The killing of the poachers comes two days after 11 elephants were butchered in Tsavo national park. KWS has attributed increased poaching to the high demand of ivory in Asian markets.