Breaking News: KDF chopper crash kills five
Two arrested over killing of five elephants in Tsavo West
Elephants in the Taita Hills in Tsavo West National Park. Five elephants were killed by poachers in the park on July 28, 2015. PHOTO | COURTESY | MARK BOULTON
What you need to know:
- The remains were found at Losoita area in the expansive park.
- A joint operation with Kenya Wildlife Service personnel is under way to track down other poachers.
Police are holding two suspected poachers after five elephants were killed in the Tsavo West National Park.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel are tracking down other poachers.
The elephants’ carcasses were found Tuesday, KWS spokesman Paul Udoto said.
“The operation involves police and Tanzanian wildlife authorities and was launched after gunshots were heard at about 6pm on Monday.
"KWS rangers were dispatched on a search mission and found five carcasses of freshly poached elephants comprising a female adult and four sub-adults with tusks missing,” he said in a statement.
The remains were found in Losoita in the expansive park and the suspects were arrested at a nearby manyatta.
“The suspected gang is believed to comprise … four Tanzanians who operate across the Tanzania-Kenya border assisted by some Kenyans from the local area. They are believed to have used motorbikes to escape with the tusks,” added Mr Udoto.
A blood-stained axe, sandals and a hacksaw were found in the manyatta where the two were arrested.
