Suspected poacher shot dead in Isiolo

A handout photo provided on November 19, 2013 by the Lewa Conservancy shows Meluaya, a 17-year-old black rhino, who was killed and dehorned by poachers at the Lewa Conservancy. PHOTO | LEWA CONSERVANCY

What you need to know:

  • KWS rangers were acting on a tip off from members of the public that the suspects were planning to poach another rhino
  • The latest incident comes after a 17-year-old black rhino was killed by suspected poachers last week in the same area

ISIOLO

A suspected poacher was killed at the Lewa Conservancy and a rifle recovered in a foiled poaching attempt on Saturday night in northern Kenya, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said.

KWS Isiolo County Warden Michael Gichure said on Sunday the suspects attempted to sneak through the protected area at midnight when armed rangers laid an ambush.

"We gunned down on suspected poacher and injured three others before they fled after fierce fire exchange," Mr Gichure said on Sunday in Isiolo.

He said the KWS rangers were acting on a tip off from members of the public that the suspects were planning to poach another rhino, four days after a female rhino was killed in the area.

Mr Gichure said KWS and conservancy rangers intensified patrols and increased security surveillance within and outside protected areas where they successfully managed to gun down a suspect.

"We believe that these are the same people who managed to kill a pregnant rhino on Sunday last week (November 17) and fled with the trophies," the local KWS chief said.

He said three other suspects escaped with injuries.

The KWS warden confirmed that the suspects were clad in military jungle uniform and were armed with G3 rifles. During the shootout, the KWS rangers also recovered an identity card, a mobile phone and an extra magazine from the dead suspect.

POACHING MENACE

The latest incident comes after a 17-year-old black rhino was killed by suspected poachers last week in the same area.

Several rhinos have been killed in the last three years at the vast conservancy. (READ: County steps up war on poaching)

The National government in August launched an elite paramilitary force to combat poaching that is to blame for a decline in the population of elephants and rhinos. (READ: Rhino poaching nearly outpaces births, group warns)

The new anti-poaching unit comprises officers drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU), Regular Police and KWS. (READ: KWS trains force to arrest runaway crime)