Aerial Surveillance Unit Report June 2013

AERIAL SURVEILLANCE UNIT MONTHLY REPORT

JUNE 2013

AERIAL STATISTICS

JUNE 2013

HOURS FLOWN

38.8

MILES COVERED

3173

AREAS PATROLLED

The majority of Tsavo East NP was covered this month, with additional coverage of Galana Ranch, as well as Lamu and two days covering Tsavo West NP

JUNE 2013

MONTHLY AERIAL ROUTES

The focus this month was on patrolling water points where the most likely poaching concentrations would be. The number of shooting blinds has been reduced considerably due to the thorough follow up on the ground by the DSWT anti-poaching teams. The serious influx of cattle into the park between Kone and Ndia Ndasa on the Tiva River was monitored and KWS teams deployed to remove them.

JUNE 2013

MONTHLY FLYING SYNOPSIS

This month four elephant carcasses were sighted (2-6 months old), none very fresh, but all with their tusks missing. Only five shooting blinds were sighted. Four poacher camps were sighted – fire places where they have been based for a few days before moving on. No poachers were seen.

Massive charcoal burning is taking place in the South Kitui NR, to the north of TENP. The charcoal burning has not been widely observed in TENP. Trucks pick up the charcoal in this remote area for commercial purposes in the nearby urban centers.

Project Amu, in Lamu County on Kenya’s northern coastline, has been gaining ground during the period of the heaviest rains in recent times. A new security camp has been underway to secure the eastern boundary of Amu Ranch, and regular anti-poaching foot patrols have been ongoing. The area is covered in water making it difficult to patrol on the ground and so the Trust airplane has be en keeping an eye on things from the air.

Other notable wildlife sightings include a Striped Hyena and a very pale giraffe, both seen in the northern area of TENP. The ground teams continue to be alert and active throughout the first month back from training, and have arrested a number of poachers as well as lifted many snares.

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