A Kenya Wildlife Service ranger was killed on Monday after being caught in an ambush by poachers. The ranger was part of a team protecting rhinos at the Ol Jorgi Ranch in Laikipia North The ranger team was involved in a gun fight with a poaching gang outside the park when they were also attacked by a poaching gang that was already inside the park.
25-year-old Paul Harrison Lelesepei was shot during the gunfight and died while on the way to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The poaching gangs managed to escape but officials say that there are leads which are currently being followed by investigators.
Senior Ranger Aggrey Maumo described that “One gang was inside the ranch already while another was outside. Our rangers had no information about the other gang that was inside and were caught unawares during the shootout with the other that was outside”
The Ol Jorgi Ranch has been hit a number of times by rhino poachers in recent months with 5 rhinos killed in just 6 months.
Ranger Lelesepei’s murder comes just days after the Kenyan government turned down permission for the KWS to use aerial drones in the fight against poachers.
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