SWT Aerial Surveillance Unit Report December 2021

AERIAL SURVEILLANCE UNIT MONTHLY REPORT

DECEMBER

AERIAL STATISTICS

DECEMBER 2021

173 HOURS FLOWN

23,092 KMS COVERED

AREAS PATROLLED

Tsavo East NP, Tsavo West NP, Chyulu Hills NP, Kasigau, Galana Ranch, Kulalu Ranch, Kilifi, South Kitui National Reserve

DECEMBER 2021

MONTHLY AERIAL PATROL MAP

MONTHLY AERIAL SUMMARY There was widespread and heavy rain across much of Tsavo in December. Sightings of illegal activities by fixed wing aircraft were limited almost entirely to livestock, which was illegally herded into both Tsavo East and Tsavo West in large numbers. Due to the rain, the aircraft were instrumental in locating herds of livestock in areas which became impossible to reach by vehicle.

On one occasion, an aircraft was deployed to help in the search for two KWS vehicles, which had reportedly gotten stuck trying to access the Northern Area in Tsavo East. Because of these wet conditions, KWS rangers were forced on many occasions to walk in by foot, however, the SWT’s helicopter was used on occasion to drop rangers off at livestock enclosures so that they could be herded out of the park. In general, livestock was observed in southern Tsavo West and northern Tsavo East but between the SWT airwing and KWS ground teams, there was a general reduction in incursion, whilst some areas were rid of livestock entirely by the end of the month.

Poaching activity within the Parks was limited in December, which is fairly typical for this time of year, However, outside of the park on Galana and Kulalu Ranches where the Trust has only recently begun intensive operations, there was a huge quantity of bushmeat poaching activity uncovered as a direct result of aerial operations on both ranches.

Something we have observed elsewhere is a direct relationship between charcoal burning and poaching. Small and largescale charcoal burners alike will simultaneously engage in poaching. The activity on Galana and Kulalu Ranches fits into the largescale category, where large charcoal camps develop, hosting dozens of people with well-worn tracks connecting to main roads and acting as a conduit for incoming supplies and outgoing charcoal (on lorries) as well as bushmeat (on motorbikes). On one flight, an SWT pilot spotted 8 motorbikes loaded with bushmeat headed for the local market, with antelope carcasses clearly visible on the backs of the motorbikes. The particular camps that they originated from were targeted by ground teams and ambushes were set, but unfortunately no arrests were made.

On another occasion, however, a camp was discovered on Kulalu Ranch and a helicopter was immediately deployed with the K9 Unit on board. At the same time, local ground teams moved in to the camp’s location. Meanwhile the aircraft followed two fleeing suspects while the helicopter dropped off the K9 Unit to follow on the ground. Although one of the suspects managed to make a clean getaway, the other was successfully arrested. In addition, 1 motorbike, 1 bicycle and 500kg of eland meat were confiscated.

Although no other arrests were made as a result of aerial sightings, several other confiscations of motorbikes and poaching paraphernalia were made on separate patrols. While evidence of poaching is not always evident from the air, there was a huge amount of charcoal activity observed on patrols, including hundreds of charcoal sacks and charcoal kilns, as well as dozens of charcoal camps and harbours. Patrols in South Kitui National Reserve also revealed largescale charcoal operations as well as a significant quantity of livestock and livestock related activity.

A small number of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) cases were responded to in December, with both fixed-wings and helicopters responding to requests to search for problem elephants outside of the park, and the helicopter assisting by pushing elephants back into the parks or other protected areas on multiple occasions. These were mostly small numbers (3) bull elephants being pushed through a dropped electric fence back into the park, however, on one occasion, the helicopter was asked to push 25 elephants out of farms and into a nearby protected area.

The most unusual HWC case in December involved a Tsavo lion that had somehow found itself in a heavily settled area of Kilifi on the coast. It is unclear where this notably large male lion originated from, but it exhibited the classic maneless appearance of a Tsavo lion. A SWT helicopter was used to first ferry the KWS/SWT Tsavo Mobile Vet down to Kilifi where a search was conducted in a patch of thick bush where the lion was thought to have disappeared. After a thorough search, the team was fortunate in that the lion broke cover and the vet was able to successfully dart him. A vehicle with a moving crate was on hand to load the lion, yet it became quickly apparent that the lion was too large to fit in the crate and so the decision was made to load it into the helicopter and transport it directly to Tsavo where it would be well clear of human habitation. Once on the ground in Tsavo, the lion was administered with a reversal drug and after a short recovery period, the lion was on his way.

Several other cases involving the vet and/or a rescue were attended to by SWT helicopter. In Tsavo West, the Tsavo Mobile Vet received a worrying report of an elephant calf that had collapsed by the side of the road and was being accompanied by a helpless mother. After assessing the situation on the ground and administering an IV drip to the calf, KWS made the difficult decision to rescue the calf so that it could be given the necessary, prolonged treatment that it required. SWT assisted with a helicopter to airlift the calf to Kaluku late in the evening. In addition to this calf, another 18-month-old elephant calf was found abandoned near Maktau and was being monitored by KWS and Tsavo Trust ground teams. SWT received a request to rescue the calf, which was loaded into a helicopter and airlifted to Kaluku. It is unclear why it was abandoned although its poor condition would indicate it had been without its mother for an extended period of time.

Two other cases occurred on ranches to the east of Tsavo East. The first was thought to be an elephant that was treated last year with a snare wound on its ankle. Found by SWT/KWS ground teams with a swollen ankle and struggling to walk, the helicopter was requested to collect the Tsavo Mobile Vet and assist with darting. Once anesthetized, the vet discovered a large, pus filled infection. Rather than being a new injury it is presumed to be a reinfection, and despite the size of the infection, the prognosis for recovery is good.

The other case had a less happy ending and involved a well-known tusker called Wide Satao. Discovered collapsed by a Tsavo Trust pilot, the vet was immediately called. An SWT helicopter joined the teams to help and despite several attempts to raise Wide Satao to his feet by looping heavy duty straps around his tusks and lifting his heady up with a vehicle, the teams were ultimately unsuccessful. Three times he was brought up onto his chest, but sadly he was too weak to stand up. Late in the evening, a rainstorm rolled in, and the ground became impossibly wet and slippery and sadly, he passed away during the night.

On another occasion, to the north, a report came in of a severely injured wild dog, dragging its back legs as if partially paralysed. The wild dog was picked up by the helicopter and transported to Kaluku where it was collected by the Tsavo Mobile Vet to be cared for in Voi. Only one elephant carcass was discovered during aerial patrols in December, belonging to a 5-year-old calf, thought to be a drought victim. Both tusks were intact and retrieved for safekeeping by KWS.

Several other callouts were attended to by SWT helicopter in December including the rescue of a baby giraffe. A report was received from a tour operator about an abandoned giraffe calf that at times had been seen either alone or in the company of zebras. It was located from the air as it had subsequently disappeared. A ground team came to monitor it before it was rescued and kept at Voi for a few days before being airlifted to Kaluku in the SWT caravan for further care.

Another rescue was of a truck driver who had gotten stuck in a remote part of Tsavo East overnight without food and with very little water. Once located, he was transported by helicopter to a SWT camp in Galana Ranch and given food and water. Later in the month, an urgent request came in to Medevac a young boy from the town of Kone on the eastern boundary of Tsavo East. After receiving a snake bite on his face, the boy’s family were unable to reach a hospital due to the heavy rains, which had made the roads impassable. Fortunately, the helicopter was able to rescue the boy, who had fallen unconscious with a severely swollen face, and get him quickly to hospital for desperately needed care and we are happy to report with rapid response the boy responded well to treatment.

Another big highlight in December was the sighting of 15 rhinos in Tsavo East, a record number in a single patrol representing 68% of the entire population. Also sighted were leopard, wild dog as well as large numbers of elephant and giraffe.

Photographs copyright © 2021 The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust