7 rhinos die in Kenyan national park under unclear circumstances

david nganga

July 13, 2018 12:25 PM

The 7 were part of 14 black rhinos that secured a new home in the Tsavo East rhino sanctuary

7 rhinos have died under unclear circumstances following a translocation exercise to Tsavo National Park.

The 7 were part of 14 black rhinos that secured a new home in the Tsavo East rhino sanctuary after Tourism CS Najib Balala launched the exercise at the Ivory Burning site in Nairobi.

A Kenya Wildlife Service official who spoke to Capital FM News, confirmed the deaths but did not offer more details.

“This is a great misfortune and investigations are underway to ascertain the death of the rhinos," the official said.

Of the 14 black Rhinos, eight were from Nairobi National Park while six were from Lake Nakuru National Park.

Major publicity

KWS is yet to issue an official statement on the matter despite the major publicity it gave to the exercise conducted last week.

The exercise was aimed at creating more secure space with suitable habitat for the rhinos.

As of 2017, Kenya had a rhino population of 1,258 (745 Black rhinos, 510 southern white rhinos and 3 Northern white rhinos.

The only surviving northern White rhino Male died in March 2018, thus only 2 females remain having grown from less than 400 rhinos in 1980’s.

The rise in population is attributed to concerted efforts from KWS, private landholders, communities, county Governments, local and international partners.

david nganga