DSWT Aerial Surveillance Unit Report April 2018

AERIAL SURVEILLANCE UNIT MONTHLY REPORT

APRIL 2018

AERIAL STATISTICS

HOURS FLOWN

KMS COVERED

AREAS PATROLLED

APRIL 2018

156.6

20,311

Tsavo’s East and West; Chyulus; Amboseli; Lower Tana Delta; Mbulia, Kishushe and Oza Ranches

APRIL 2018

MONTHLY AERIAL PATROL MAP

MONTHLY AERIAL SUMMARY Much of April was spent on operations in support of KWS’s efforts to destroy illegal marijuana plantations in the Chyulus as well as supporting the major flooding that was experienced in the region. Towards the end of March, one of the fixed wing aircrafts discovered several new cases of marijuana cultivation in the Chyulu Hills and after conducting further surveys, it became apparent that there were actually dozens of small and medium-sized farms that had popped up in the last two years. Every year, the Chyulus are set ablaze by herders attempting to improve grazing conditions for their livestock. There are generally also a few fires that break out in dry-deciduous forest which are normally attributed to honey harvesters, however, for the last two years, these forest fires have been more intense and much larger and have even been set high in the hills in the cloud forest. While surveying for marijuana, it became apparent that these fires were actually intended to clear land for marijuana cultivation, as almost every burnt patch had a corresponding patch of marijuana growing along the edges of the forest. Some of these farms were as large as 10 acres, representing a fraction of the area cleared to plant them.

Marijuana plantations in the Chyulu Hills

With the help of both DSWT fixed wing aircraft and the helicopter we assessed the scale of cultivation and then the KWS coordinated a joint-operation between their own rangers along with DSWT, Big Life and Tsavo Trust to uproot and burn the plants. In many cases, the farms were in extremely difficult-to-access areas, across old, jagged, lava flows and it took them hours to reach the farms every day. The DSWT Air Wing assisted throughout by monitoring progress as well as scouting for additional farms, some of which were well hidden along the inner edges of volcanic cones and deep within the cloud forest. It took more than 3 weeks to destroy the majority of these plantations, after which a smaller crew were left to finish the job. Two arrests were made, and in one case a “farmer� was carrying 14 kg of harvested marijuana. It is expected that the combination of having crippled this growing operation as well as the ongoing construction of an electric fence by the DSWT, along the entire Eastern boundary of Chyulu Hills National Park, will mean that an enormous amount of forest destruction will be curbed.

Also, with regard to forest fires, we have received our 820 litre Bambi bucket for the Airbus helicopter and have begun testing the external load equipment in preparation for the next fire season, so in the event that fires are started, we will be able to quickly quench them and prevent them from spreading.

Near the end of the month, huge flooding affected much of the country, and the Galana and Tiva rivers both rose higher than they have in living memory. Every camp/lodge along the river in Tsavo East was flooded, including our own Galdessa camp. Fortunately, the DSWT helicopter was available to assist those on the other side of the river at Tsavo Safari Camp by flying in food rations and clean drinking water to the staff. The damage at Galdessa was fortunately not as extensive as at other camps, which in some cases were completely destroyed, however, a clean-up effort was still required and is ongoing.

The power of the Athi/Galana flood was awe-inspiring, leaving little in its wake. In places where the river narrowed it rose well over 10 metres, clearing large areas of mature, riverine forest and even uprooting massive baobabs. Although no camps were situated along the Tiva River, the destruction to vegetation was perhaps greater there. Raging waters cut across meandering sections of the river leaving exposed rock where forests once stood.

Tiva River flood damage

Illegal activity was relatively low during April as river levels kept people from crossing into large sections of the Park, and with the rains, many would-be poachers seemed to have returned home to try and cultivate their farms one more time. However, there were large numbers of livestock observed along the Eastern boundary of Tsavo East, to the North of Lali Hills. Several operations were conducted with ground teams as well as by helicopter to remove them. These activities are still ongoing. Livestock was also noted in Tsavo West and dealt with by KWS ground teams.

Charcoal burning has increased in the Chyulu Hills and on a few group ranches following a ban on transporting charcoal in neighbouring Kitui County. Significant reduction in supply of charcoal has meant that demand for charcoal from our area of operation has increased. To combat this, both helicopter and fixed wing were deployed on several occasions to locate charcoal kilns and camps so that our ground teams could destroy them.

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) remained a concern in April and culminated with the tragic death of a resident south of Kibwezi, who was trampled by an elephant. Reports later revealed him to be a notorious elephant poacher. To prevent the added tragedy of the elephant being killed in retaliation, we quickly located the elephant by plane and then pushed it back into the Park through a stretch of temporarily removed fence line. Fortunately, the community was grateful for the swift response. The same fence construction along the Eastern boundary mentioned earlier in this report will hopefully alleviate cases of HEC in this area in the future.

In service to KWS, the helicopter also assisted in moving 4 out of 16 elephants out of the newly constructed rhino sanctuary in Tsavo East in preparation for the imminent arrival of its first inhabitants, expected in the next few weeks.

In addition, the helicopter was called out to visit livestock bomas on Galana Ranch to follow up on intelligence received about an armed gang moving through the area.

While the Voi Mobile Vet unit was taking their off days this month, the DSWT also provided a fixed wing aircraft to transfer the Amboseli Vet 330 km away to the lower Tana Delta to treat an elephant there with a severe snare wound on its front leg. With the foreign body removed, the elephant is expected to make a full recovery, however without intervention it would surely have died.

Highlights of the month included the discovery of a bush meat poachers hideout with 100 snares that will no longer bring suffering to their intended prey and a sighting of a pack of 10 wild dog near Lugard’s falls in Tsavo East.

Treatment of a snared elephant in the Tana Delta

Photographs copyright © 2018 The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust