PH
An adult elephant has been killed together with its calf at at Dogokicha village, in Marsabit County, Eastern region of Kenya by suspected poachers.
Police have arrested five suspects in connection to the incident, among them three Ethiopia nationals and two Kenyans.
Police said the suspects removed the elephants’ ivories, tails and ears.
Regional Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Senior Warden, Peter Lekeren divulged that the tusks weighed 12.4 kilograms each, and were to be sold at KES.7,000 each.
Area police boss Mark Wanjala said an AK 47 rifle, 16 rounds of ammunition and five spent cartridges were recovered at the scene of crime.
He said the suspects were intercepted following a tip off from residents.
He said investigations were underway to establish where the tusks were destined to, adding that “the suspects were arrested at the village as they prepared to transport the ivories to unknown destination.”
County commissioner Magu Mutindika and Governor Ukur Yattani condemned the incident, terming it as counterproductive.
Mutindika warned that the government will deploy its machineries to eliminate poaching as he called on residents to report any suspicious persons to the authorities.
He urged residents to surrender illegal firearms and also embrace the ‘Nyumba kumi’ initiative in the fight against crime.
Governor Yattani expressed shock saying continued incidents of poaching will destroy the county heritage, noting that the population of the jumbos had drastically reduced as a result of poaching.
He urged residents to continue supporting efforts aimed at protecting wildlife.
