This is Kenya; the alarming rate at which we are losing our heritage leaves a lot to be desired. As we speak, 2014 this year of our Lord has seen the loss of about 16rhinos and 10 elephants to poaching.
Friday 14th March 2014, in the evening, gun shots were heard, after their silence later the the following morning the worst was confirmed …Sheria, another male black rhino dead at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The incident has left me with more questions than answers. Anyone who has followed Ol Pejeta’s anti-poaching mechanisms will tell you that it’s one of the best if not best protected rhino sanctuaries in the world whose security is characterized by SAS-trained armed rangers, sniffer and attack dogs, military vehicles, helicopter and aircraft support. So, I’m not sure if this is a case of poachers getting smart in 2014 or that was an internal-cum-inside job by whoever God knows, but all I guess and assume is that rhinos are no longer safe in sanctuaries. Three suspected poachers were arrested.
New Wildlife Conservation and Management act: To be frank, the new anti-poaching law doesn’t seem to be doing us any good if the most recent events in poaching circles in Kenya are to go by. Actually the only strength in that law is just a stiffer penalty of a 20 million Kenya Shilling fine ad a life jail term of a convicted offender. The penalties haven’t yet seen the light of day even after some deserving fellas were arrested in the previous recent past.
I don’t know whether its Kenya I’ll cry for as an estimated 120rhinos are expected to be lost this year if tables are not turned on poachers or it’s the people of Mzansi Im gonna weep for. South Africa is now on record having lost more than 100rhinos so far in the the year 2014.
The Silly Reality about Poaching in Kenya
Friday 14th March 2014, in the evening, gun shots were heard, after their silence later the the following morning the worst was confirmed …Sheria, another male black rhino dead at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The incident has left me with more questions than answers. Anyone who has followed Ol Pejeta’s anti-poaching mechanisms will tell you that it’s one of the best if not best protected rhino sanctuaries in the world whose security is characterized by SAS-trained armed rangers, sniffer and attack dogs, military vehicles, helicopter and aircraft support. So, I’m not sure if this is a case of poachers getting smart in 2014 or that was an internal-cum-inside job by whoever God knows, but all I guess and assume is that rhinos are no longer safe in sanctuaries. Three suspected poachers were arrested.
I don’t know whether its Kenya I’ll cry for as an estimated 120rhinos are expected to be lost this year if tables are not turned on poachers or it’s the people of Mzansi Im gonna weep for. South Africa is now on record having lost more than 100rhinos so far in the the year 2014.
The Silly Reality about Poaching in Kenya
- Like Drama, a fella the other day claimed to know exactly who the lead poaching cartels in Kenya are only referring to them as a ‘Governor’ form Rift Valley, an ‘MP’ from Central Kenya and two ‘businesspeople.’ Nothing much has been heard of the same as I speak; only Buddha knows.
- Poaching has destroyed Elephant communities in Amboseli, Tsavo and other national parks.
- Poaching has reached a level where by it should be declared a national disaster but no one is willing to.
- Poachers in Kenya have become so brave that they have mastered the art of striking in broad day light: - a case of Lake Nakuru National park whose story I have no time to tell at the moment.
- There is a new anti-poaching law whose stiff penalties include a life time jail term, and or a 20 Ksh. Million fine for a convicted offender. No culprit has tasted the full wrath of these penalties the one who came close to this was Tang Yong Jian, who pleaded guilty to being in possession of raw ivory valued at $6,000 after being arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport mid January. As of the time I was sober he was serving seven years after being unable to pay a $230,000 fine, I pray and hope he still is.
- Thanks to poaching, there is a 100% likelihood that your children’s children will never get to see an elephant or rhino unless on picture in the next 15years to come.
