CS Balala fires KWS Boss after death of 10 rhinos
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The black rhinos died after they were translocated to Tsavo East National Park from Nairobi and Nakuru National Parks.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala made the announcement when he delivered an investigation report of what caused the death of the rhinos.
Mr Kimani was instructed to revert to his previous position as Director of Parks and Reserves as Dr Charles Musyoki replaces him with immediate effect.
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According to the autopsy results, the saline water in the rhinos' new home was what led to their death.
Investigators further mentioned that the animals had been stressed due to acute dehydration.
"The cause of all the deaths was due to multiple strees syndrome intensified by salt poisoning and complicated by the following conditions: dehydration, starvation, proliferation of opportunistic bacteria in the upper respiratory tract, gastric ulcer, and gastritis," Balala said.
The inquiry also blamed KWS staff for negligence noting that they failed to record the animal’s change of behavior when they moved to a new location.
"The independent inquiry further showed there were areas of clear negligence that occurred post translocation at the release site in Tsavo, especially in the holding BOMA at the sanctuary," Balala said.
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Six other top officials at the Service were suspended awaiting disciplinary action be taken against them.
They include: Samuel Kasiki who was Deputy Director Biodiversity, Research & Monitoring, Francis Gakuya (Head of Veterinary and Capture Services), Dr Isaac Leekolol (Head of Capture Service), Felix Mwangangi (Senior Warden Tsavo East), Mohammed Omar (Head of Ecological Monitoring) and Fredrick Odock (Senior Scientist Tsavo).
The black rhinos were being moved to Tsavo in a bid to start a new rhino population.
The only surviving rhino from those translocated to Tsavo was attacked by a lion and is currently nursing deadly wounds.
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