Ministry raises concern over drop in number of vultures

By Antony Gitonga

NAIVASHA, KENYA: Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has embarked on a major research to establish the reasons behind the sharp drop in the number of vultures in the country. 

The association expressed its concern over some species in major national parks that were getting extinct.

According to the Principal Secretary in the ministry of environment, water and natural resources Richard Lesiyampe, investigations into the numbers had started. 

He said that 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 Hellsgate national park in Naivasha as the most affected due to the ongoing exploration of geothermal power which has forced some vultures to relocate. 

Lesiyampe was however quick to note that this was a global problem where some species were getting extinct. 

The PS was addressing the press in KWS training institute in Naivasha during graduation ceremony. 

He at the same time assured tourists that the country’s parks, reserves, mountains and conservancies were very secure. 

Despite terror attacks and increase in cases of poaching, Lesiyampe said that the government had secured the parks. 

“We have formed an elite crack unit to protect our parks and we are calling on members of the public to work with us,” he said. 

Lesiyampe noted that the unit consisted of GSU, APs and KWS officers and had been sent to all the parks adding that the country had high potential of domestic tourism.