Bushmeat poaching rises to unprecedented levels in Kenya

Poaching of animals in the wild for their meat has risen by alarming proportions in Kenya and is threatening to wipe out species. A report published by a task force on wildlife security, titled Lifting the Siege: securing Kenya's wildlife, estimates that 3,000 animals are poached every year in Tsavo alone, says news website AllAfrica.

With subsistence poaching at an all time high and commercial poaching becoming a flourishing business, bushmeat poaching levels have become unprecedented in areas such as Narok, Naivasha, Isiolo, Samburu, Machakos, Kitengela, Namanga where wildlife has declined and even disappeared.

The main target of poachers are ostriches, dik dik, antelope, zebra,  the rare bongo and the roan antelope. “Vicious poaching for bushmeat is experienced in both protected and non-protected areas throughout the range lands. All species of wildlife are harvested indiscriminately using snares, bows and arrows, spears, clubbing and occasionally firearms, this practice is unsustainable and could lead to extermination of many species,” AllAfrica quotes the report.

Gangs go on poaching sprees for weeks in Tsavo and the kills are ferried to the market on motor cycles and bicycles, says the report. Loss of wildlife has been detrimental to the tourism sector as well.

The report says that lack of adequate equipment to carry out anti-poaching operations is the main challenge the country faces to deal with the problem and participation of the community is urgently needed.