Kenya’s rhino population rises 11 per cent

Two female northern white rhinos in Nanyuki. Pic/AFP

An international wildlife organisation said that there was an 11 per cent increase in rhino numbers in Kenya from 1,441 in 2019 to 1,605 in 2020 amid no poaching last year.

In a statement on Friday, James Isiche, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) regional director for East Africa, said a continuous decline in rhino poaching incidents was seen in the last eight years, which is a testament to the measures put in place to safeguard the animals.

Isiche said the pandemic elicited fears of an increase in wildlife poaching.

However, he said measures put in place by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and partners like IFAW ensured the safety of these prehistoric animals highly sought after for their horns. "We congratulate all wildlife security partners and agencies for this major achievement in fighting wildlife crime and keeping Kenya's rhinos safe. For the first time in a long time no rhinos died due to poaching," he said.

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