LAIKIPIA, Kenya, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Kenya Wildlife Service has launched an operation in Laikipia county, northwest Kenya to pursue two suspected poachers who had a shootout with rangers in a sanctuary on Saturday night.
There was a fierce exchange of fire between the duo and the rangers in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, according to the KWS.
"An operation is underway with track dogs helping to follow the trails of the poaching gang members feared to have been injured, one seriously," the KWS said in a statement Sunday.
The statement said a G3 rifle and 30 rounds of ammunition were recovered at the scene of the shootout which took place at 10:00 p.m. local time.
"We would like to appeal to the public to be vigilant and report any person seeking treatment from bullet wounds to the nearest police station," it said.
Located in Laikipia county, Ol Pejeta is home to the last three Northern White rhinos in the world and the largest group of black rhinos in East Africa, over 100 of the estimated 2,500 in the world.
