Kenya Wildlife Service, KWS, officers at the Lake Nakuru national park have in the last nine days marked and ear notched 34 rhinos for identification purposes.
The exercise undertaken by KWS veterinary officers, rangers and officers trained in animal husbandry is being led by Dr. Isaac Lekolool, a veterinary surgeon with kws.
Speaking to journalists at the park early today, Lekolool said that of the 34 rhinos they have worked on so far, 15 are black while 19 are white.
He said that they have had to carry out the exercise in the morning and in the afternoon since the rhinos can be easily spotted within that period.
The team is using a chopper to scare rhinos from the bushes before they are captured, sedated, ear notched and marked within ten minutes.
He added that this year’s exercise is easier than last year’s since the terrain within which they have been operating is relatively good compared to last year's.
According to Lekolool said that rhinos remain under risk from poachers thus the services’ commitment to ensure that they are protected.
He said that in future, the rhino-ranger ration might raised to 1:1 to ensure that poachers are dealt with accordingly.
The veterinary surgeon singled out bad weather and high security risk as some of the challenges they have encountered so far.
kws carries out the exercise in all national parks and game reserves with rhinos at a time determined by the concerned department.
the exercise ends tomorrow.
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