Poacher held, tusks recovered in Tsavo
Two suspected poachers loading the carcasses on a KWS Van in Mwatate June 28, KWS has arrested two poachers at Tsavo park with ivory Photo/Raphael Mwadime
Kenya Wildlife Service rangers in Tsavo East National Park have arrested a poacher and recovered two elephant tusks. Police said the suspect was arrested at Galana near the park by the rangers who were on patrol. A G 3 riffle with 15 bullets were found. The suspect is said to have been terrorising wildlife at the ranches and parks in Taita Taveta county. Taita police chief Nathaniel Aseneka said the suspect was being held at the Voi police station.
The suspect will be charged in court once investigations are complete. Conservationists have warned that the increasing incidents of poaching are threatening elephants and rhinos. They now want poaching declared a national as a national crisis. Increased poaching has been blamed on the demand for ivory in Middle East and China.
On Monday, KWS reported that one suspected poacher was gunned down and three illegally-held firearms recovered in four different incidents across the country. Seven suspects are in police custody while three escaped from the incidents according to information from the KWS website. Last week, another suspect was arrested in Mwatate and two pieces of elephant tusks recovered. In another incident at Kimweli in Northern Tsavo East, two suspected poachers were arrested with two pieces of ivory and three gadgets for trapping animals. The gadgets amputate the legs of the animals trapped