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Ninth Rhino Dies at New Kenyan Sanctuary

by Rael Ombuor

   NAIROBI --

   Kenya's Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife said Tuesday that a ninth
   black rhino has died after being relocated to a new sanctuary in a
   national park. The ministry says preliminary investigations indicate
   the rhinos died of salt poisoning after drinking water with high
   salinity.

   The latest black rhino death, reported Tuesday, brings the number of
   deaths in the botched relocation operation to nine. Only two of the
   transplanted black rhinos remain in the new habitat at Tsavo East
   National Park.

   The Kenya Wildlife Service says the relocation was meant to establish a
   viable population in the new sanctuary and to safeguard the endangered
   species from poaching.
   A team led by Kenya's police investigative unit will look into exactly
   what caused the deaths and how it happened, and give a report in a
   week's time.

   Najib Balala is Kenya's cabinet secretary for tourism and wildlife.

   "And the team that is going to lead the investigation will be a senior
   officer from the CID Office, the criminal investigation office, then we
   will attach somebody from my office. There will be the University of
   Nairobi, the Vet Department, there will be the Vet Department also at
   the ministry of agriculture," he said.

   Balala said the deaths were unprecedented in KWS operations,
   necessitating both external and independent investigations.

   The secretary showed photos of Rhino horns he said belonged to the
   deceased animals to confirm that all the horns were secured by KWS
   after their death. Earlier, Kenyans on social media had voiced
   suspicion the rhinos were killed for their horns, which are coveted in
   Asia as status symbols for their mythical healing qualities.

   Balala said the two remaining rhinos in the park are being monitored
   closely.

   "We have confirmed this morning with park management that they are in
   good health," he said.
   Rhino populations across Africa have dropped dramatically in recent
   years, mainly due to poachers.

   According to the Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya had a rhino population
   of 1,258 as of 2017. This figure included 745 black rhinos.