Lucy, an orphaned giraffe at Meru National Park.
Photo/ANTHONY KAMAU
Two suspected poachers were on Thursday gunned down at the Meru National Park.
Kenya
Wildlife Service rangers, who foiled the poaching attempt, also
retrieved an AK47 rifle loaded with five rounds of ammunition.
The
two suspects, dressed in Administration Police uniform, were in a gang
of five but their accomplices fled with gunshot wounds, after a fierce
shoot-out with the rangers.
Meru National Park senior
warden Kenneth Ochieng said they heard gunshots at around 1.30am and
tracked the poachers before laying an ambush.
Mr Ochieng said the suspects, believed to be from Kulamawe, were also armed with an axe.
“We
managed to gun down one suspect who we believe was the leader of the
gang. The second suspect managed to get away but later died of his
wounds and was hurriedly buried according to Borana customs,” he said.
The warden added that a white rhino believed to have been the target, was injured on the leg during the shoot-out.
He
noted that police were hunting for the three accomplices who were still
at large and that they would alert all hospitals and dispensaries
around the park to report people seek medical help with gunshot wounds.
Mr Ochieng said they had intensified patrols and security within and outside the park to curb poaching.
TUSK HUNTING
Elsewhere, two suspects who were attempting to sell elephant tusks weighing 3kgs were arrested at Giutine Market in Igembe.
Officers
acting on a tip-off from the public laid an ambush for the suspects and
pounced on them before they could carry out the transaction. The
suspects are being held at the Maua police station.
“We are sending out a stern warning to poachers that we will catch up with them very soon,” he said.
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