Official: British soldiers shoot dead charging rhino in Kenya
The Associated Press Published: November 19, 2006


NAIROBI, Kenya: British troops shot dead an endangered white rhinoceros after it charged them while they were lost on military exercises in northern Kenya, a wildlife official said Sunday.

"They were on exercise when the soldiers became lost in the bush," said Connie Maina, spokeswoman for the Kenya Wildlife Service. "The rhino charged and they had no option but to shoot it."

The incident took place Friday evening in Laikipia, around 300 kilometers (190 miles) north of the capital, Nairobi. The remote area boasts some of Kenya's best wildlife viewing.

British troops have a base near to Laikipia and regularly undergo training in the area, Maina said. She had no further details of the incident.

The dead animal was a white rhino, whose numbers in Kenya have dwindled to about 170 in Kenya, according to wildlife experts.

The white rhino has made a recovery in some areas of Africa, but are critically endangered in others; they are the biggest of the rhino family, weighing as much as 2,700 kilograms (6,000 pounds). Among land mammals, only the elephant is bigger.

British officials were not immediately available for comment.

Conservationists say there was once around 20,000 white and black rhinos in Kenya, but their population has been decimated by poachers for their horn, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine or for ceremonial dagger handles.

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Not a poor, docile, white rhino! They are merely pets and wouldn't harm anyone!It's also interesting that in Kenya where hunting is BANNED that their numbers have DWINDLED.

Seems like the question is why are the hated white imperialist are there in Kenya in the first place?

Looking to the UK to protect them from some foriegn force?

Maybe this is how it went...

Damn, our GPS batteries fell out. Now we are lost. And just our luck, see that Rhino over there? Let's see if we can't get him to charge.

Everyone... lock and load... here we go!

Wahooo, got something to talk to the grandkids about now.

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
The dead animal was a white rhino, whose numbers in Kenya have dwindled to about 170 in Kenya, according to wildlife experts.

In non-hunting Kenya, a wildlife "paradise".

quote:

The white rhino has made a recovery in some areas of Africa, but are critically endangered in others; they are the biggest of the rhino family, weighing as much as 2,700 kilograms (6,000 pounds). Among land mammals, only the elephant is bigger.

Yes in countries such as South Africa which allows hunting of some of the natural increase of them.

The Kenya Army will probably upset they won't get a share of the loot. But maybe the Kenyan Gov't can just bill the UK for it anyway.

Hmmm Something doesn't ring true- I wonder how many rounds that took, or did someone use the grenade launcher .223 ball wouldn't stop an angry forest hog let alone a rhino.

With the SA80 its very rare ,perhaps the have a FN MAG or an accuracy international sniper rifle ,but ....i dont believe scout snipers get lost.Juan

Guys,

You're way of the mark. The british army uses Kenya and a few other nations for training purposes and in return they get kit, their rangers are taught to fight and track, etc and some much needed revenue. We also do alot of humaitarian assistance such as digging wells, building bridges, erecting village buildings, etc

It's a good 'safe' area in which to train without prying eyes. As to getting lost when the GPS units pack up...perhaps the finger should be pointed to the yanks. It was amazing how many couldn't tell north from south when over in the middle east.

If a rhino charged you...i doubt you'd think twice about whether it was endangered or not. You can't outrun the bugger and they're mean tempered.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Heath:
Hmmm Something doesn't ring true- I wonder how many rounds that took, or did someone use the grenade launcher .223 ball wouldn't stop an angry forest hog let alone a rhino.

M-79 worked on Water Buff

Kenya: KWS Probes Killing of Rhino By Soldiers


The Nation (Nairobi)

November 21, 2006
Posted to the web November 21, 2006

Nation Correspondent
Nairobi

Wildlife experts are investigating the shooting to death of a rare rhino by British soldiers last week.

Four soldiers from the Gurkha regiment told the Kenya Wildlife Service that they shot the white rhino at the Ol Jogi game ranch in Laikipia District after it charged at them.


KWS officials carrying out the investigations have interviewed owners of the private ranch to establish the circumstances under which the rhino was killed.

The male white rhino was shot on Wednesday night and died the following day while undergoing treatment, said the KWS corporate communications manager, Mr Paul Udoto.

The soldiers reported the matter to the warden in charge of the district but investigators from KWS in Nairobi are assisting in the investigations.

Strayed into sanctuary

The report indicated that the soldiers had accompanied other troops to the nearby Ol Loldaiga area for military exercise but they strayed into the rhino sanctuary.

"Hunting is illegal in the country and all animal deaths caused by humans must be investigated," said Mr Udoto.

Although the ranch is private, KWS takes charge of all wild animals, said Mr Udoto.

The rhino is a rare species and its horn is highly valued for medicinal purposes.



The animal, which can weigh up to three tonnes, was threatened with extinction several years ago due to poaching, but interventions by conservationists have seen its numbers increase.

The other species of the animal is the black rhino.

The British Army trains at Archer's Post near Isiolo and at Dol Dol in Laikipia under an inter-governmental agreement since independence.

quote:

Originally posted by ScotsGun:
Guys,

.......

It's a good 'safe' area in which to train without prying eyes. As to getting lost when the GPS units pack up...perhaps the finger should be pointed to the yanks. It was amazing how many couldn't tell north from south when over in the middle east.

Scotsgun

It wasn't the Americans that were lost, it was the British.

quote:

Originally posted by invader66:

quote:

Originally posted by Don Heath:
Hmmm Something doesn't ring true- I wonder how many rounds that took, or did someone use the grenade launcher .223 ball wouldn't stop an angry forest hog let alone a rhino.

M-79 worked on Water Buff

invader I know there has to be more to this story. Come on fess up