By JOB WERU and PATRICK MUTHURI
Meru; Kenya. Four suspected poachers have been killed in Mt Kenya region, as the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) steps ups the fight against poaching.
KWS rangers who shot dead the suspects at the Meru National Park and at Solio Conservancy in Nyeri County also recovered a G-3, an AK-47 rifle and 54 rounds of ammunition.
Acting Head of Mountain Region Conservation Area Aggrey Maumo said the two were shot dead at 3am Thursday after they entered the electric-fenced Solio ranch, a sprawling private conservancy,.
Solio ranch is home to hundreds of the endangered black rhino species and the white rhino species.
Maumo said the gang of three shot and badly injured one rhino before KWS rangers and ranch workers spotted them.
“They tracked them and a heavy exchange of fire ensued. Two poachers were shot dead and a G-3 rifle loaded with seven rounds of ammunition, a sword and pliers recovered. The third suspect escaped arrest and we are pursuing him,” said Maumo.
Rhino being treated
The KWS officer said veterinary officers were treating the wounded rhino, which he said is recuperating, as rangers pursue the runaway poacher and their agents.
Maumo said the dead poachers are believed to be from the neighbouring Solio and Narumoru areas.
In Meru National Park, an AK-47 rifle, 47 rounds of ammunition, two ivory tusks and two axes were recovered from two suspects who were shot dead.
Meru National Park Senior Warden William Kiptoo said one was killed on the spot. The other escaped with bullet injuries and died later. “I appeal to the residents living near the park to give information when they see suspicious people,” he said.
Security operation commander in the Meru Conservation Area Peter Lokitela said they are still tracking the poachers who escaped during the shootout.
Kiptoo said several elephants have been killed by poachers within Meru National Park in the last year, adding that the rangers have intensified the fight against poaching.
“We have been able to recover more than five firearms and more than 400 rounds of ammunition in the last one year,” said Kiptoo.
Meanwhile, officers from the Special Crime Prevention Unit (SCPU) have recovered 28 elephant tasks valued at over Sh25 million and arrested four suspects.
According to the unit’s commander Said Mohammed, the trophies were recovered on Wednesday night following an operation organised by SCPU and the flying squad officer.
Mohammed said 12 tusks were recovered in Makindu area and four in Nairobi. “We have been working closely with the Kenya Wildlife Service in the operation. We further managed to recover 12 more trophies in Eastleigh following a tip off from our informers,” he said.
—Additional reporting by Isaiah Lucheli