Kenya has recorded the highest illegal rhino killings measured in recent times with poaching hitting the critical 1 percent of the rhino population in 2009 for the first time in 25 years, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) revealed on Monday.
According to KWS, twelve black rhinos (2% of Kenya black rhino population) and six white rhinos (1.5%) of Kenya Southern white rhinos were illegally killed last year.
Most of the poaching incidents were recorded in the private ranches with the rhino poaching gangs armed with high caliber semi – automatic weapons. KWS blamed increased poaching on the rising price for black-market rhino horn.
“Kenya calls upon the countries of concern to come to CITES COP 15 in March in Doha, Qatar with specific actions they have undertaken to show their commitment to stopping this poaching and protecting rhinos in the wild,” KWS director, Julius Kipng’etich told a press conference in Nairobi.
He said that Kenya has heightened rhino protection and in a number of cases, the poachers have been arrested and horns intercepted before leaving the country.
He further added that Kenya has also proposed amendments to a CITES resolution on rhinos, with the aim of strengthening the resolution and placing greater responsibility on countries consuming rhino horns.
According to KWS, South Africa and Zimbabwe have similarly been affected by the rampant global rhino poaching.
In 2009, the two nations lost more than 250 rhinos, and the poaching is escalating. The illegal trade is being driven by Asian demand for rhinoceros horns, noted KWS.
Source African Press Agency
