Alarm raised as hundreds of rhino calves die in territorial fights

Loisaba Conservancy Chief Executive Officer Tom Silvester and KWS DG Prof Erustus Kanga during the screening of premiere RHINO/HANDOUT

The Kenya Wildlife Service has raised concerns over a spike in rhino territorial fights that threatens to wipe out calves.

KWS Director General Erustus Kanga on Saturday said even though the interventions that have been put in place has seen an increase in rhino populations particularly the black, rhino fights are now the new frontier that must be confronted.

“In 2023, we had over 280 rhino births in this country. In 2024, we recorded more than 260 rhino births,” Kanga said.

Kanga said he tasked his team to account for the over 500 rhino calves.

“Unfortunately, we could only account for 100.”

This means 400 rhino calves could not be accounted.