[ad_1]
Four days after the death of eight black rhinos in Tsavo East National Park following their transfer from Nairobi and Nakuru National Parks, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) not yet addressed the subject.
KWS officials remained speechless even as local and international environmentalists pressured the agency to take responsibility for the animals' deaths.
The eight were part of a herd due to overpopulation in Nairobi and Nakuru parks, which hampered breeding. The new 100-square-kilometer Tsavo East Rhino sanctuary in the oldest and largest national park in Kenya was supposed to be more suitable for breeding
GLOBAL MEDIA
The program targeting 14 rhinoceroses was conducted jointly by KWS and the whole world. Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for a cost of 100 million shillings
The guard who oversaw the transfer refused to talk about the issue, while Mr. Linus Kariuki, coordinator of the Kenya Rhino program, said that He was on leave. the last group of rhinos was moved from Nakuru National Park.
KWS spokesperson Paul Gathitu could not be reached for comment.
Conservation activists Paula Kahumbu and Chris Diaz expressed dismay at the tragedy, including Fox News, CNN and the Associated Press.
MULTI-MILLION
National Geographic described the deaths as "an important step backwards," which "undermines years of conservation efforts" of endangered animals.
Rhino translocation is a high-risk, sensitive operation that requires large-scale studies before implementation. In addition, there are more than 745 black rhinos in the country.
And when he is sponsored, he is thoroughly examined. Which highlights the question: was the displacement of several millions useless?
KWS suspects that the animals died of salt poisoning after drinking highly salty water in their new environment. But the question is whether the agency conducted extensive testing to determine that the new environment was suitable for animals? And, why did he move so many animals at once? Or is it a criminal act involved, and if so, who could have done it and why?
UNANSWERED
What's even more bizarre, is how rhinos, under 24-hour surveillance by armed rangers, could all be dead at a time. And will the remaining three survive?
Here are some of the questions that remain unanswered as conservationists try to figure out what might have happened. The details of the exact moment when the animals are dead remain foggy. The first reports were published last Friday, but some sources say that the animals could have died two weeks earlier.
The translocation plan sparked controversy early last month, as conservationists and other parties wondered why rhinos were being transferred to a public protected area Towards a Private Sanctuary
IN DANGER
But KWS rebadured everyone that the rhinoceros sanctuary in Tsavo National Park was, in fact, a public institution.
a camouflage whenever endangered animals die in parks. The Daily Telegraph reporter, Adrian Bromfield, claimed that the KWS had hidden the death of a number of rhinos killed in the Maasai Mara reserve a month ago
Peter Gathumbi, veteran pathologist of the 39, University of Nairobi and Dr. Markus Hoffmeyer, rhino veterinarian and translocation expert from South Africa, has been engaged to investigate rhinoceros deaths.
NEGLIGENCE
The results of the investigation are expected this week, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife. The translocation was also suspended
The KWS promised to take disciplinary action against its rangers if it turns out that negligence played a role in the deaths. However, it remains to be seen whether the findings of the investigations will be made public, as promised by the government.
Kenya has a total of 1,258 rhinos. These are found in the intensive protection zones (IPZs), sanctuaries and outdoor farms. There are 16 rhinoceros sanctuaries in the country
At 745, Kenya has the third largest population of black rhinos in the world
Rhinoceroses ripen after seven years.
[ad_2]
Source link
