KWS admits war on poachers ‘tougher’

PHOTO | KWS Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) director William Kiprono.  KWS

The war on poachers is becoming tougher as most of them have military training, the wildlife protection unit said on Monday.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) boss William Kiprono said poachers were well-acquainted with the terrain in national parks and this, coupled with inadequate rangers, made the fight more difficult.

Speaking in Nakuru, Mr Kiprono said there were only 2,700 rangers countrywide who could not contain the heavily-armed poachers.

“The poachers have access to superior weapons like sniper rifles and night goggles and few layman can operate these, let alone know where to get them,” he said.

Nakuru National Park, which has one of the world’s biggest rhino populations, is a major target with nine killed recently.

Currently Kenya has only 1,000 rhinos left.

LIGHT SENTENCES

Mr Kiprono at the same time attributed lenient laws as another problem in the anti-poaching war. He complained about the light sentences offenders were getting from the courts.

He said it was frustrating that poachers only pay a fine of Sh30,000 when they sell one horn for millions. “It is economic sabotage,” he said.

Mr Kiprono assured the public that the KWS was doing everything to curb poaching but said he feared the killings could increase.

“There is an unprecedented appetite for rhino horns,” he said, adding this was fuelled by a myth that they cure some cancers.

Mr Kiprono said there was some light at the end of the tunnel as China, suspected to be behind most of the poaching, has joined hands with Kenya to curb the menace.
Daily Nation