Poachers use poisoned arrows to attack jumbos

Poachers are using poisoned arrows to attack elephants before removing their tusks, leading to the death of four jumbos in the Tsavo Conservancy in the last two months.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) assistant director in charge of Tsavo Conservancy Robert Obrien said the agency’s veterinary officers were treating five elephants daily.

“So far, we have lost four elephants and our veterinary officers treat between four and five elephants daily,” Mr Obrien said.

He said the poachers were using villagers neighbouring the conservancy to impair elephants with poisoned arrows.

The use of poison follows the mopping up of firearms in the Taita-Taveta ranches after a family of 12 elephants was killed by poachers in January.

“KWS is at the moment grappling with the problem of poachers using villagers within the conservancy area to kill the elephants by using poison arrows,” he said.

Sagala, Kasigau, Mackinon, Kilibasi, Maungu, Kuranze, Bachuma, Dakota and Yatta Plateau have been identified as the areas where the use of poisoned arrows is on the increase.

He said five suspects arrested recently were in possession of poisoned arrows.

KWS is sensitising local communities on the need to conserve wildlife in order to stem the collusion.

KWS director William Kiprono said last month that 137 elephants and 24 rhinos had been killed by poachers this year, half of them in Tsavo.

The alarming rise in poaching has also been blamed on low fines for the offence.