Suspected poacher arrested in Tsavo West National Park – KBC

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) security team has arrested a suspected poacher in possession of an elephant tusk at Elerai area in Tsavo West National Park.

The tusk is suspected to be one of the two extracted from an elephant that was killed at Losoito in Tsavo West National Park, close to a month ago.

Acting on reliable Intelligence, KWS officers backed by multi-agency personnel, and cross-border teams – including officials from Tanzania – mounted an intense investigation into the matter.

These efforts culminated in the arrest of one Kenyan, Papayo Ole Kesoi, who had in his possession a single elephant tusk.

The other tusk could not be traced and is suspected to be in the hands of the poachers who crossed over to Tanzania.

KWS is confident that the other accomplice(s) to this crime will be apprehended in due course, given that the Tanzanian Government is equally committed to quashing all crimes against wildlife.

KWS working with stakeholders has put in place mechanisms to eradicate all forms of wildlife crime, particularly poaching.

These mechanisms include enhanced community education, interagency collaboration, intensive intelligence-led operations among others.

These efforts have led to zero rhino poaching in Kenya in the year 2020; the first time in about two decades.