The new Wildlife Act, 213
The enactment
of a new law heralds a new beginning on addressing threats to wildlife
conservation and institutionalising efficient management of wildlife and seeks
to secure, in law, communities benefits. This has given Kenya the toughest
wildlife law in Africa. KWS will leverage on the law to safeguard
wildlife. http://www.kws.org/info/news/2014/19march2014wildlifestatus.html
A
suspected poacher was on 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.
KWS
is continuing to build capacity of rangers to address emerging poaching
methods. The training academy in Manyani has developed relevant curriculum in
relation to emerging challenges.
KWS
has heightened collaboration with other law enforcement agencies in the country
and beyond as well as more robust intelligence gathering. The collaboration
includes follow-ups on suspected poaching gangs, surveillance in all port of
entry and exits and overt operations in wildlife areas. It has also roped in
the Judiciary and the Office of Director of Public Prosecution in view of
securing convictions for arrested perpetrators of wildlife crimes.
KWS
partnership with communities living in wildlife-inhabited areas has enabled the
organisation to foil numerous poaching incidents at the planning stage as
members of the public volunteered information.
In
retrospect, in cases where poachers committed crime, prompt and sustained
follow-ups were undertaken leading to arrest of 1,549 offenders last year. KWS
law enforcement units were involved in active operations that led to active
engagements with poachers leading to recovery of 68 fire arms and 2,630 rounds
of ammunitions.
KWS
also recovered 13.5 tonnes of contraband ivory at the port of Mombasa and
10,106kg of bush meat last year. Majority of these smuggled contraband ivory
had entered Kenya from neighbouring countries.There has been a decline in the
desire by smugglers to use Kenyan ports to smuggle contraband ivory since we
heightened surveillance there.
Sharon
C
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