Herders deny killing animals in Coast parks
A file picture taken on December 9, 2010 shows the carcass of a Rhino shot dead by poachers and later scavanged by wild animals lying on the ground at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in central Kenya. Pastoralists have denied that they are involved in poaching and pledged to work with the government to eradicate the menace. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
- Poachers are taking advantage of terrain to hunt for wildlife, claim pastoralists
Pastoralists have denied that they are involved in poaching and pledged to work with the government to eradicate the menace.
The Kenya Wildlife Service was accused of portraying the herders as criminals.
“The truth is that some criminals take advantage of the presence of herders in various ranches to do illegal business. But it is not our herders,” Mr Mohamed Huri, one of the pastoralists, said on Monday.
Elephants killed
According to KWS, 41 elephants have died in Tsavo this year.
“We are not behind the poaching. Our sole business is to fatten our cattle for sale and for milk,” said Mr Huri stressing that they worked closely with KWS to bring poachers to book.
Mr Huri said there had not been any problem in the area. “No elephant has been killed in these ranches. But the poachers killing elephants elsewhere are damaging our reputation. This is affecting our business,” he said.
He and colleagues have more than 5,000 head of cattle in Mbale and Maungu ranches.
KWS recently called for a mop-up of illegal firearms in Taita Taveta’s 29 ranches to stop the slaughter of elephants.
KWS assistant director Robert Obrein said a similar exercise conducted last year led to a decline in the number of elephants killed by poachers.
