I just posted a news article "I'm Not Interested In Inspector General Job, KWS Boss Julius Kipng'etich".

I hope you'll read it and post your impressions. If Julius Kipnetich thinks the average elephant dies at 30, he needs to be taught more about elephants in order to protect them better! He should know that elephants live up to 60 - 70 years if they are not poached, speared, poisoned, harrassed, etc. I nearly choked when I saw that comment.

Also, if KWS is charged with caring for ALL wildlife in Kenya, why aren't they in charge of the reserves and conservancies even though they are privately owned?

Let's hear more comments on this interesting interview.

Yes, Jan, the KWS boss, Mr. Kipng'etich, greatly downplays the poaching of elephant and rhinos which has soared over the past few years. (I believe he also inflates the number of elephants left in Kenya and their reproduction rate of 4% would be accurate if you discount droughts and poaching). He seems to say they are dying "naturally" (from snares, bullets, poison?) and that the reduction of rhino numbers in the Aberderes is totally from them "being eaten by lions".
Good grief, talk about putting your head in the sand.

You're absolutely right about the age of elephants which can be well into their 60's and 70's - not 30 as he states.

KWS is responsible for all wildlife including those in reserves and conservancies - but while they are more hands-on (although even that is debatable) in the National Parks, they are much less involved when the everyday running of the reserves is in the hands of the local county councils, or with the conservancies which are run by private ranchers and policed by their private security/anti-poaching staff.

The criminal sentence for having been caught with tons of ivory is a joke (20,000 K Shillings = $250)???.
Completely outrageous.

It is dawning on me that this rampant poaching cannot be continuing at this dramatically increased level without the aid of high officials throughout the government, rogue KWS rangers and officials, and even tourist camp workers and members of the local populations. KWS and private wildlife conservation organizations have their hands full - and as Mr. Kipng'etich admits - with the increasing population of Chinese into Africa...poaching of elephants and rhino will only increase.

Well said Kat. Agree with you completely.

One thing I would like to see done, but it won't change, is diplomatic immunity. It is well known that many government officials smuggle ivory and other wildlife products such as skins, bushmeat, etc in their diplomatic luggage. I think if "sniffer dogs" detect any type of wildlife products, the person should be arrested, even if they have diplomatic immunity.

I received an email from a friend who is a former game warden in Kenya and he states:

"Elephant are too wise to eat trees or foliage that is poisonous. Kipng'etich made another blunder in that interview. Melia volkensii which grows in Tsavo East is never touched by elephants even at the height of the drought there. He told his interviewer that elephants died from eating poisonous vegetation, what a bunch of crap! "