5 Vehicles, 20 Motorbikes to boost wildlife protection
Kenya News Agency
January 10, 2022
State Department for Wildlife has handed over five patrol motor vehicles
and 20 motorbikes to the Maasai Mara and Tsavo landscape partners as part
of an initiative aimed at combating poaching and illegal wildlife
trafficking in Kenya.
Speaking at Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) headquarters on Monday, State
Department for Wildlife Principal Secretary Prof Fred Segor said that the
project is led by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife as the implementing
partner and prescribes a long-term solution towards poaching and illegal
trafficking in the Maasai Mara and Tsavo landscapes.
“There is need to guard the landscapes of Maasai Mara and Tsavo as they are
the last frontiers for wildlife in Kenya and the provided vehicles and
motorbikes will help increase the capacity to co-ordinate and respond to
the anti-poaching fight,” said Segor.
The PS stated that the anti-poaching project is financed by Global
Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund through United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and has a highly coordinated approach within and between
wildlife management and law enforcement entities, county governments as
well as wildlife conservancies established by local communities.
“This handing over of vehicles marks a critical step towards increasing the
effectiveness of protected areas, conservancies, and local law enforcement
agencies to reduce poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking in threatened
species,” said the PS.
According to the PS, KWS is set to receive two vehicles and 4 motorbikes
for use in the Tsavo Conservation Area, Narok County government two
vehicles for use in the Maasai Mara National Reserve while Maasai Mara
Wildlife Conservancies Association one vehicle for use in the conservancies
forming the buffer zone around Maasai Mara National Reserve and Taita
Taveta Wildlife Conservancies six motorbikes for use across the
Taita-Taveta Ranches.
Noting that poaching of elephants has reduced from 61 in 2016 to five in
2020, the PS said that the project will ensure the numbers remain low by
strengthening the capacity of project partners through continued provision
of necessary equipment and support to protect the wildlife.
“KWS has actively been involved in combating poaching and is modernising
its equipment to ensure they are ahead of poachers,” stated Segor.
https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/5-vehicles-20-motorbikes-to-boost-wildlife-protection/