By Bisola Adeyemo
The State Department for Wildlife in Kenya has donated five vehicles and twenty motorbikes as part of effort to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking in the Maasai Mara and Tsavo landscape.
The State Department for Wildlife Principal Secretary, Prof Fred Segor said this on Monday while speaking at the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) headquarters, KNA said.
Segor described the donation as a long-term solution towards poaching and illegal trafficking in the county.
“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.
Speaking on the KWS efforts to reduce poaching, Segor said KWS will continue to provide the 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.