Lagos, Nigeria (CNN) Kenya is probing the death of eight rhinos at one of the country's national parks just over a week after the animals were moved.

The eight rhinos were among 11 that were moved from the Nairobi and Nakuru national parks to Tsavo East National Park, in a process known as translocation, and designed to boost depleting rhino population in the country.

"This kind of mortality rate is unprecedented," Mulie Muia, director of communications Kenya Tourism Ministry, said adding that postmortem examination and forensic investigations into the incident has begun.

Kenya's WildlifeDirect has called the rhino's death "a major conservation tragedy" calling on the government to be transparent and adopt the best practices when relocating animals.

"It's a disaster, we've never had that many rhinos killed in such an operation, that's nearly 80% of them killed in this operation.

Read More