The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) will recruit 1,000 new rangers to step up the fight against poaching, Kenya's The Standard reported Wednesday (January 30th).

"The conservation body will recruit 500 rangers in July this year while the rest will be employed next year," said KWS Director William Kiprono.

Shortages of rangers and funding have limited the KWS's ability to curb poaching in Kenya, Kiprono said while in Taita-Taveta County.

"Tsavo Conservation Area has only 300 rangers who manage a vast land area of 6 million square kilometres, hence the need for additional personnel to successfully tackle the poaching menace," said area Assistant Director Wilson Korir.

Kiprono's tour of the region came after KWS rangers shot dead a suspected poacher in Tsavo National Park on Saturday and recovered a cache of weapons.

Kiprono said international and local help is necessary to stop poaching. "The poachers operate like an army and we appreciate the security personnel who have been able to dismantle them," he said.