From BBCNEWS.COM, Nairobi - Written by Karen Allen
British soldiers training in Kenya have been accused of frightening wildlife.
The soldiers, it is claimed, have been flying helicopters so low that they are scaring off the wild animals who live in the game reserves.
And game wardens in the Samburu district have complained that British forces are doing little to help the country's conservation efforts.
Members of the First Royal Irish Regiment are undertaking training exercises in Kenya.
'Illegal' safaris
Just days after their arrival at Archers Post, about 100 miles (161km) north of Nairobi, they have been accused of illegally conducting their own safaris from the air, flying helicopters alarmingly low and scaring off the animals in the nearby game reserves.
A senior warden from Shaba and Buffalo Springs game reserves, Mohammed Tubi, said the soldiers had hovered low in helicopters above the parks for up to 15 minutes at a time.
The deafening noise had scared off elephant, giraffe and other wild animals, he said.
He added that if the soldiers wanted to see Kenyan wildlife, they should pay like any other tourist and come in by road.
A spokeswoman for the British High Commission in Kenya said they were urgently investigating the issue.
The British army has been reminded not to overfly national parks during training exercises.
