This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
From Jail into the Bush: Poaching Resurgence in Kenyan Forests ¶
Wildlife poaching is on the rise across Kenyan forests and important conservation areas, with bush meat poaching offences increasing after the release of petty offenders during the Covid-19 crisis.
According to a wildlife conservation officer who requested anonymity, most bush meat poaching offences in the country are categorised as petty offences, making it not surprising that following the release of petty offenders, bush meat hunting is suddenly soaring.
As a result, beef consumers in the city are being advised to stay vigilant as the bush meat finds its way to butcheries.
Decline in tourism activities has led to a dip in revenues for conservancies, forcing them to scale down daily park patrols.
For instance, in the Maasai Mara's Mara Triangle, rangers estimate that between 30 to 40 hippos have been killed by armed poachers in the past two months alone.
On May 27, the anti-poaching unit found fresh poachers' tracks along the Kenya-Tanzania border, and the canine unit trailed the tracks for five kilometres, smoking out the criminals from their hiding.
The poachers were carrying at least 50 kilogrammes of dried meat with a street value of Sh50,000.
Wildlife conservationists in North Rift have also raised alarm over rising cases of game poaching in most government forests, with the most affected being South Nandi forest in Nandi County.
Residents hunt gazelles, antelopes, forest warthogs, and colobus monkeys among other wild animals for meat.
However, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has been reluctant to admit the claims, instead downplaying the threat.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said that the incidences are so far not higher than what had been recorded during the same time last year, but acknowledged the possibility of an increase given the situation with the ongoing pandemic.
