World Wide Fund for Nature which partnered with the Kenya Wildlife Service in the botched transfer of black rhinos has admitted mistakes were made.
On June 26, the lobby donated two vehicles, three motorbikes, cameras, computers, binoculars, and tents to assist in moving the rhinos from
Nairobi National Park to Tsavo National Park. Ten have died.
In a statement,WWF said it recognises that grave mistakes were made in the operation. The lobby said it will review the inquiry report and assess its processes as a donor.
“The news yesterday of the death of the tenth rhino is heartbreaking. The results of the inquiry released by the government have shown areas of negligence,”read the statement.
“WWF will be offering its support to the state in implementing the recommendations to prevent such losses in the future. We stand by to assist in any further assessments by the government. We will continue with our support for conservation of Kenya’s wildlife; a commitment we have kept since 1962."
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala directed the KWS board to examine the involvement of NGOs. He wants the board
to establish clear protocols of engagement.
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Save the Rhinos estimates there are fewer than 5,500 black rhinos in the world, all of them in Africa, while Kenya's black rhino population stands at 750, according to the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
The independent inquiry showed there was negligence in the post-translocation at the release site in Tsavo, especially in the holding BOMA at the sanctuary.
Balala said this included poor coordination and communication among officers that were responsible for pre-translocation studies that included biomass assessments; environmental impact assessments and water quality assessments.
The results of the water assessments were hardly considered before execution of the operation.