Poacher killed in gunfight, rifles and ivory recovered

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KWS spokesman Paul Mbugua (seated) displays firearms and ammunitions recovered by KWS rangers during past anti-poaching operations to journalists in a past press conference at KWS headquarters. Three rifles and 37 rounds of ammunitions had been recovered last week.

A suspected poacher has been gunned down and an AK47 rifle, 27 rounds of ammunitions and 24kgs of ivory recovered in Meru National Park on Monday (October 29, 2012). 

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers had encountered the gang of four slaughtering an elephant while on patrol when a gun fight ensued. Three of his accomplices believed to have escaped with injuries are being pursued in adjacent areas.

Meanwhile, a total of 40 suspects were arrested and 82kgs of raw ivory recovered during the past one week of anti-poaching operations across the country. 

Two poaching gangs of three suspects each were arrested at Matolani village in Malindi County and Tomaita village in Kirinyaga County by KWS rangers. During the arrests, two rifles and 10 rounds of ammunitions were recovered. KWS officials were following up information volunteered by members of the public that led to the arrest of the gangs.

In Nairobi County, a 50 year-old man holding a Chinese passport was arrested and a piece of ivory seized at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while on transit from Lumbumbashi, DRC to Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday (October 23, 2012). The suspect was booked at the JKIA police station and arraigned at a Makadara Court.