SAD!! THREE rhinos killed in Maasai Mara

Kenya Wildlife Service has launched investigations into the deaths of three black rhinos at Maasai Mara National Reserve.

The endangered rhinos, two adults and a calf, were found at the Mara Triangle on Tuesday night, adding to the 13 that died as a result of poisoning few months ago.

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

Preliminary 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.

Black rhinos

Narok County Commissioner George Natembeya said that 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 situated in southwestern Kenya 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.

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.

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.

Black rhinos are endangered species and are under threat from poachers

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