All night search as poachers kill rhino

A manhunt for poachers was underway in Nakuru on Friday following the killing of a rhino.

The killing took place on Thursday night at Lake Nakuru National Park. The poachers fled before cutting off the animal’s horns.

Questions have been raised about how the poachers beat the security dragnet thrown around the park immediately after the killing. The park is also secured with an electric fence.

All night search

The Kenya Wildlife Service officers assisted by other security agencies and sniffer dogs conducted an all night search for the poachers to no avail.

The wildlife agency director, Mr William Kiprono, said the rhino was killed about a kilometre from the electric fence, hardly a week after a lone arrow-wielding poacher was gunned down inside the park, just 50 metres from the rangers’ houses.

The Environment and Wildlife Cabinet secretary Prof Judy Wakhungu said the criminals were becoming more sophisticated.

“These people are highly skilled and armed with advanced weapons,” she said and added that it was not easy to kill a rhino with a single shot.

“We have reasons to believe that these people have night vision instruments and have taken their evil game a notch higher by striking during downpours when rangers are indoors,” added the Cabinet Secretary. The three-year-old’s death brings to five the number of rhinos killed this year. Ninety five rhinos still roam the vast park.

Lake Nakuru National Park enjoys a premium status for it attracts tourists seeking to watch rhinos and flamingoes, its flagship species.

Prof Wakhungu said the rising water levels had forced the rhinos to move near the fence, making them easy targets.

She warned Kenya Wildlife Service officers suspected of collaborating with the criminals of dire consequences.