Three highly endangered animals die mysteriously in the Maasai Mara

Image result for black rhinoWhat could be the cause of rhino deaths ?

July 2018, After the Kenya Wildlife Service transferred seven  endangered black rhinos to Tsavo East National park, they were pronounced dead in a mysterious way that led to a war of words . The seven were among the 14 rhinos that were marked to be moved from Lake Nakuru and Nairobi national parks in an effort to save them from poachers. Mystery surrounds the circumstances under which the animals died.Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) refused to comment, amidst rising pressure from conservationists and Kenyans on social media calling for an explanation on how the rhinos died. “Somebody should explain what is going on. Did the rhinos die during translocation, in the field, in the sanctuary where they were supposed to stay? And how did they die?” said Paula Kahumbu, a conservationist and CEO of Wildlife Direct.

But even as Kenya is looking to tap in the tourism industry in coming holiday with tourists from all over the world streaming in the country , another incidence has been reported of the same nature in Maasai mara game reserve.

Three black rhinos have been reportedly found dead  and the The Kenya Wildlife Service has opened investigation into mystery at Maasai Mara National Reserve.

The endangered rhinos, two adults and a calf, were found at the Mara Triangle on Tuesday night.

Image result for rhino gif

Some officials suspected that the rhinos might have consumed a poisonous plant, while others said that the animals died of natural causes.

An official at the KWS, who declined to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the press, overruled any possibility of poaching.

Maasai mara has been on the headlines when the world famous pride of lions was poisoned by herdsmen inside the reserve, leading to the death of three animals.

Investigations show that the rhinos belonged to the same family.“We have taken samples from their bodies to the KWS laboratories in Nairobi to establish the cause of their deaths,” he added.

According to the Narok County Commissioner George Natembeya one of the rhinos was 57-years-old while the mother of the calf is believed to be between 15 and 20 years old.

Mr Natembeya said KWS Narok Senior Warden Dickson Ritan is leading a team of investigators and a comprehensive report would be issued after the lab report is released.

No rhino death has been reported in the reserve in the last two years. In 2016 a black rhino was found dead in the reserve near the Kenya-Tanzania border with its horns missing.

Black rhinos are endangered species and are under threat from poachers.

Image result for black rhino

There are 49 black rhinos in Maasai Mara, according to Mara Conservancy, which manages the Mara Triangle.

In 1971, the park had 120 black rhinos but the number dropped to due to poaching.

In 2015, KWS launched a forensic lab to help monitor cases of poaching.

In January 2016, the US government signed a memorandum of understanding on national conservation and management between the US Department of Interior and USAID, and Kenya’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, to help improve surveillance technology, train wildlife rangers and share information as the best tools to counter poaching.

Is kenya at risk of loosing its heritage?

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