OF ELEPHANT AND RHINO POACHING; THE PAIN AND POACHERS

The pain an Elephant or Rhino has to endure to have its tusk or horn cut/removed by a poacher is out of this world. Poachers have graduated from use of arrows, pangas and snares to now power saws, grenades and sophisticated guns on choppers. 

Militants such as Janjaweed are said to benefit immensely from poaching. One day, they are alleged to have killed 26elephants in Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic. 

Kenya's no different as this week Dr.Leakey (Wildlife Direct founder) claimed that 25 Government officials in the Jubilee Government are engaged in illegal animal tusks trade. As much as the new anti-poaching law appears tough to an average poacher, it could be a walk in the park for poaching bigwigs, particularly if the Ksh.20M fine is to go by, given the fact that 6kg of rhino tusks can fetch about ksh.25M. 

However, a life sentence to a convicted poacher can turn a few tables if often applied. 2012, 2013 and 2014 have been the bloodiest years Africa conservation has seen.

 
Here is my 2bob collection of Poaching incidents in Africa the last 2Years:

 
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2014/03/wildlife-poaching-in-kenya-2014.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-pregnant-elephant-loses-life-to.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/11/suspected-poachers-killed-in-laikipia.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/another-black-rhino-loses-life-to.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/09/41-elephants-poisoned-by-poachers-in.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/06/another-elephant-killed-save-elephant.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/05/poachers-kill-26-elephants-at-sanctuary.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/05/breaking-biggest-elephant-massacres-in.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/04/gruesome-tragedy-as-another-elephant.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/breaking-news-from-bangkok.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/thai-prime-minister-pledges-to-end.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2012/09/world-rhino-day.html

KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE STATEMENT ON STATUS OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

" March 18, 2014 - A suspected poacher was this morning (Monday March 18, 2014) at 1.45 am shot dead in Lake Nakuru National Park while two of his accomplices escaped. The body was taken to the mortuary in Nakuru and assorted weapons, including a bow, four poisoned arrows, spear and food, taken by police. 

Kenya Wildlife Service acting Director General Mr William Kiprono flew to the scene of crime in Lake Nakuru National Park where he addressed journalists and KWS staff. He was accompanied by Mr Francis Kirathe, County AP Commander, Mr Mohammed Birik the County Commissioner and Mr Mbogo County CID boss.

Mr Kiprono noted that Lake Nakuru was one of the most hit by poaching of rhinos, having lost four since the beginning of the year.  Vigilant KWS rangers responded swiftly and recovered horns from three of them while poachers took away one horn. 

At national level, 16 rhinos have been lost, with 13 killed by poachers and three due to natural causes. Last year, Kenya lost a total of 59 rhinos. Thirty elephants have been poached since January this year compared 302 elephants in the whole of last year (2013). These statistics point to an emerging appetite of rhinos horns for an estimated population of 1,036 in the country. However, there is a decline of elephant poaching numbers from 384 in 2012 to 302 elephants in 2013. 

KWS has laid out strategies to counter the runaway poaching for these species and general protection of all wildlife landscapes. KWS has created and equipped a Rapid Deployment Unit to provide support to ranger teams in areas thought to be highly vulnerable including conservancies that host endangered species. This team will join the inter-agency anti-poaching crack unit that was deployed in Narok, Tsavo and Isiolo. 

ANOTHER BLACK RHINO LOSES LIFE TO POACHING

(Nanyuki, Kenya). As the triennial Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) drew to a close last week in Bangkok, and after conservationists all around the world sounded the alarm on rhino poaching, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy lost a female black rhino to poachers.

22year old  Upendo killed by poachers 13th March

On March 13^th, 2013, at approximately 6:20pm, gunshots were heard on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Our armed teams responded right away. During their deployment, they came face to face with four of the poachers, exchanged gunfire and it is believed that some of the poachers were wounded. However, in the end, the poachers got away. Our security team is currently working with the Kenya Police and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) anti-poaching unit to follow any possible leads to apprehend the culprits. READ MORE >>>