I want to know what killed rhinos, says Balala to KWS – Mediamax Network Limited

Judy Akuma and James Wakahiu

Tourism Secretary Najib Balala denounced the sincerity of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) about the deaths of nine black rhinos last week.

Requiring a full explanation of the death of the rhinos that were being transferred to Tsavo National Park, Balala blasted the KWS for taking too long to report the incident to him.

"Although I want to believe that there was no professional negligence has a few questions to answer, especially about why they took too much time to inform me and informing the public The translocation of rhinos has always been successful and that is why we have black rhions in the two national parks of east and west of Tsavo. capacity, but on this incident, there are more questions than answers. "

Therefore, Balala ordered that all the government chemist's investigation reports and the post mortem results on rhinoceros death presented to him. First before the KWS accesses them to exclude any game.

Addressing the press at KWS headquarters in Nairobi yesterday, the SC said that independent investigations are under way. course and his department involved the Criminal Investigations Branch to determine the cause of the animals. death.

Balala said that nine of the 11 black rhinos that were transferred to Tsavo died. He stated that the DCI would investigate, among other things, the cause of death, either because of salt water, negligence, or if it had anything to do with the professional conduct of KWS officials who were dealing with the cause of death. # 39; exercise. CS indicated that a full postmoterm report will be received on July 23 and will be made public. He also ordered halting the translocation of rhinoceroses until the issue was finalized.

Greenpeace Africa Executive Director Njeri Kabeberi called for a quick and thorough investigation of deaths. In a statement, Kabeberi said that death is another major setback for conservation, which comes just months after the death of the last white rhino from the north of the planet in March and urged the KWS and the World Wide Fund disaster and put measures in place to prevent this from happening again.