A fortnight after poachers killed four endangered black rhinos in southeastern Kenya, the Kenya Wildlife Service (kws) claimed that it had arrested one person in possession of three fresh-looking rhino horns. Another person was arrested on suspicion of storing the horns at his house.

In November 2001, four black rhino carcasses were found dehorned in Tsavo National Park. Since 1983, it was the first time that poachers had ventured inside one of Kenya's national parks to kill the species, which is on the brink of extinction.