DSWT Aerial Surveillance Unit Report JULY 2013

AERIAL SURVEILLANCE UNIT MONTHLY REPORT

JULY 2013

AERIAL STATISTICS

JULY 2013

HOURS FLOWN

44.6

MILES COVERED

3524.8

AREAS PATROLLED

Northern & Southern Areas of Tsavo East NP, Tsavo Triangle, Group Ranches, Chyulu Hills NP

JULY 2013

MONTHLY AERIAL ROUTES

During this month 15 days were dedicated to carrying out aerial patrols and elephant darting. The majority of patrols were in the Northern Area of Tsavo East National Park (TENP), and the Southern Area of TENP, including the Triangle, whilst one day was spent patrolling the ranches, and one day in the Chyulu Hills NP.

JULY 2013

MONTHLY FLYING SYNOPSIS

A major portion of this month’s flying involved the locating and assistance in darting of wounded elephants. It has been a busy month for poison arrow poachers, with five elephants darted in three days at one point, all needing aircraft assistance.

The operations with the Vet Unit and the SkyVets program have been very successful and all elephants reported this month with wounds have been found, darted and treated - seven in total. The Aerial Surveillance Unit is dedicated to monitoring sensitive wildlife cases after they have been treated by the veterinary unit by observing their movements and reporting back to KWS Field Veterinary Officer Dr. Poghon on their status.

The Mobile Vet Unit has been very busy treating additional cases without aircraft assistance when they can be located more easily.

Amazingly no fresh elephant carcasses have been sighted during this month despite the large number of elephants seen with arrows. The DSWT anti-poaching teams have been active on the ground and have captured a number of poachers, whilst on occasion calling on the aircraft for back up.

One baby elephant was airlifted to Nairobi on July 11th from Kaluku HQ airstrip, after days of searching from the air and the ground. The Tiva Team captured the elephant and tended to it while waiting for the aircraft from Nairobi to arrive.

Other notable wildlife sightings include a black rhino mother and calf running free in TENP, and a herd of 16 Hirola in TENP.

More information about the DSWT’s Anti-Poaching program and each team’s monthly report can be found here

Reported by Nick Trent Field Operations Manager, DSWT Photographs copyright Š 2013 The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust