By MAGDALENE WANJA
A 24 hour rhino monitoring team has been formed to enhance security after the herbivores showed encouraging signs of breeding during the past two years at Lake Nakuru National Park.
The park’s Deputy Warden Maureen Musimbi said the team had been specially trained to handle rhinos to improve their environment for them to breed within the highly protected sanctuary.
“The team has been trained to ensure security of the endangered species and keep records of all the new births within the park as well as ensure the rhinos’ favourite shrubs thrive,” she said.
She said the ear-notching exercise would be carried out soon to help them update records and for easy identification of the rhinos.
Kenya Wildlife Service Senior Veterinary Officer Isaac Lekolool said the rhinos’ gestation period of 18 months made it necessary for the records updating exercise to be conducted every two years.
Dr Lekolool added that the ear-notching exercise would be carried out at other sanctuaries and conservancies in the country.
He added that the exercise would also enable them track any missing rhinos with ease as all of them now have names written on their tags.
The exercise is being carried out ahead of the tourist peak season that begins in June.
Courtesy of nation.co.ke