File photo shows Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers hold ivory at the KWS headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei)

MOMBASA, Kenya, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers killed four suspected poachers at Tsavo East in the coastal region of Tana River on Saturday.

A senior KWS officer was also killed and another injured after a shootout with suspected poachers in Tana River. KWS communications officer Paul Udoto said they recovered guns and ivory during morning operation.

He said the officers are pursuing the accomplices who escaped during the raid with gunshot wounds.

The latest incident came after two suspected poachers were killed in the Kulalu Galana ranch also in Tsavo East on Friday. Udoto said the two were killed in shootout with KWS rangers patrolling the ranch.

He said a KWS ranger was injured during the incident on Friday and was airlifted to Nairobi for treatment. An AK-47 rifle and 28 bullets were recovered from the suspects.

On Jan. 19, two suspected poachers were gunned down at Satao in the Tsavo East National Park. It came amid increased poaching in the park with about five killed at the park last year.