Poachers now using minors to transport elephant tusks

By EDWIN CHESEREK and KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

Poachers raided Rimoi National Reserve in Elgeyo/Marakwet and killed two elephants.

Kenya Wildlife Service rangers found the carcasses at Chegilet near Kerio River.

And in Narok, KWS rangers arrested three suspected poachers, among them a boy, in possession of two elephant tusks weighing 26.5 kilogrammes.

Chief Warder Dominic Kilonzo said on Wednesday the elephants killed in Rimoi were aged between 20 and 25.

"They used poisoned spears while the animals were drinking water in the river and took away their tusks," he said.

The warden added that one suspect had been arrested in Baringo North District and rangers recovered ivory worth Sh80,000.

He explained: "The suspect had hidden the tusks in a cave near his house about 15 kilometres from where they killed the elephants."

Rising crime

Kilonzo called for concerted efforts between Keiyo County Council and the public to curb poaching, which has potential to kill tourism.

Last week, suspected poachers killed another elephant in Kiptopich in Baringo North District that had strayed from the reserve.

The reserve spreads along the Kerio Valley and boasts of a population of 400 wild animals, making it an ideal destination for tourists.

The suspects in Narok were found at Olenkuluo near Masai Mara Game Reserve as they were transporting tusks to a dealer on a motorcycle, which is now at the KWS office in Ewaso Nyiro. KWS Narok Senior Warden Kenneth Naishu said the value of the tusks was yet to be quantified.

"We got intelligence reports that the poachers were transporting the tusks and the rangers pursued them," he said and added that doctors will have to ascertain the age of the minor.

Mr Naishu said poaching was on the rise in Narok and poachers had changed tact and were using minors to transport tusks.

"They use money to lure minors to move tusks from the bushes to the dealers in Narok. Most of the times they use motor cycles to avoid detection," he said.

Naishu said KWS was going to push for stiffer sentences for poachers and asked residents to assist KWS and other agencies to stump out the practice, which is decimating elephants and rhino population.

Meanwhile, KWS will next month remove the remaining 111 elephants from settlement areas of Narok to Masai Mara. Last November, it moved 106 jumbos to the game reserve. Naishu said the exercise would cost Sh31 million.