6 MORE ELEPHANT BUTCHERED INCLUDING ADOLESCENTS WITHOUT TUSKS
(Posted 27th April 2014)
News of another senseless slaughter of 4 young elephant without tusks, alongside their two adult ‘minders’ shocked the conservation fraternity over the weekend.
Information came to light that the 6 elephants mowed down were killed near the border with Tanzania on a private ranch in Taita Taveta District last Thursday and that the poachers espaced with the tusks of the adult elephant, likely across the border into Tanzania.
Only a week earlier had KWS arrested some 15 suspected poachers and taken them to court in Voi, before another complete and utter failure by Kenya’s judiciary set them free on bail, likely to resume their bloody handiwork afresh. KWS Executive Director William Kiprono was in fact quoted in local Kenyan media that he suspected strongly that this latest wildlife crime was committed by the same gang.
Conservationists are questioning the ruling by a Voi magistrate to let the gang go free again, as this contradicts statements of cooperation and tough rulings against poaching suspects by the highest echelons of Kenya’s judiciary. It was ascertained that the prosecution did oppose any release on bail while additional investigations were ongoing and the suspects are now on the loose again and may never return to court to stand trial. Calls have promptly emerged to relief the magistrate in question of duty and commence a disciplinary hearing for what one regular conservation source called ‘aiding and abetting poaching’ by rendering suspect rulings in violation of common sense and the broad new direction set under the new wildlife bill.
Only a few months ago was a major elephant count carried out across the trans boundary range on both sides of the border and the results showed a decline in elephant population since the last game count three years ago by over 1.500 animals. Added the source: ‘I have said it before, magistrates and judges who give weak rulings are immediate suspects that they were gotten to. It is in today’s poaching crisis beyond me and many of my colleagues that these judicial officers can still ignore the reality on the ground and grant bail. They are as guilty as those who poach when it comes to taking responsibility for the poaching crisis we now have in Kenya’.
What then does it take to bring all organs of state on board to more effectively combat poaching and give KWS as the arresting party the respect they deserve by keeping the suspects, regularly found with ammunition, weapons and blood ivory, in custody until they are found guilty. Watch this space.
One Response
Often, the prosecution is to blame for presenting weak cases in court. A judge can only convict based on the evidence presented before him/her. To expect otherwise is to court judicial chaos.