Two suspected poachers shot dead in Kenyan park

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said Saturday its rangers shot dead two suspected poachers inside Lake Nakuru National Park.

Nakuru County Commissioner Mohammed Birik told journalists that the two armed poachers were on a mission to kill endangered white rhinos in the park, when the KWS rangers who were on night shift ambushed them at around 11:00 p.m. Friday.

"The two poachers were found in possession of a Marc IV rifle with five rounds of ammunition, a knife, an axe, two loaves of bread and two bottles of soda," Birik said. "The KWS officers were on patrol in the park when the incident happened. Measures have been put to boost their morale and welfare."

George Nagwana, Assistant Director Central with Rift Conservation Area said the poachers had laid a trap on a known rhino path that leads to a watering hole on the hilly section, and the rangers were forced to shoot dead the poachers after they failed to surrender.

He said measures have been stepped up curb poaching menace at the park, including enhanced KWS rangers, detective machines and aerial surveillance airplane among others.

The rangers have been on high alert in the past four months after the park experienced its worst slaughter of rhinos last year where seven of the the mammals were killed.

Rhinos are a flagship species for Lake Nakuru National Park, which markets itself as a sanctuary for black rhinos.