KWS alarmed over country’s declining number of vultures

By Antony Gitonga          

Kenya: The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has launched a research into the declining number of vultures in the country.

KWS says the research will seek to establish the major causes of the sharp decline of the birds.

The association has also expressed concern over the declining number of some species in major national parks. The species are said to be extinct.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe over the weekend said the ministry had embarked on securing some land and corridors so as to protect the endangered species.

“We have noticed a sharp drop in the number of vultures in some parks and our researchers have started investigations into this,” he said. Experts have pointed to Hells Gate National Park  as the most affected conservancy due to the ongoing exploration of geothermal power, which has forced some vultures to relocate.

Mr Lesiyampe was, however, quick to note that the decline is a global problem where some species are getting extinct. The PS was addressing the press at the KWS Training Institute in Naivasha during the institution’s 12th graduation ceremony.