SWT Aerial Surveillance Unit Report March 2022

AERIAL SURVEILLANCE UNIT MONTHLY REPORT

MARCH 2022

AERIAL STATISTICS

MARCH 2022

225 HOURS FLOWN

29,496 KMS COVERED

AREAS PATROLLED

Tsavo East, West, Galana Ranch, Kulalu Ranch, Shimba Hills NP, Chyulu Hills NP, Amboseli

MARCH 2022

MONTHLY AERIAL PATROL MAP

MONTHLY AERIAL SUMMARY With five pilots flying in March, a huge amount of ground was covered, both within and outside of the national parks.

Encouragingly, there has been a massive improvement in the status of illegal activity in the park, thanks to persistent efforts by KWS (supported by the SWT Aerial Unit) to drive herders and their livestock out of the parks. Only a few small incursions were recorded in Tsavo East, and these were dealt with swiftly by KWS. In Tsavo West, north of the Maktau-Taveta road, a similar level of non-tolerance has been maintained. However, in the southern sector of Tsavo West, earlier than expected rains produced irresistible, green grass and thousands of cattle are being herded into the park to graze. The Trust has increased the frequency of aerial patrols in this area and KWS, as well as our own ground teams, are making progress responding to sightings. It is a big task, though, with over 50 livestock enclosures observed on a single flight as well as over 10,000 cattle and other livestock.

There was a successful arrest of two poachers found with a dead crocodile on the Athi River. The poachers were spotted during a routine helicopter patrol, and both apprehended after the helicopter landed nearby. Also discovered on aerial patrols was a shooting blind and a poacher’s harbour still with poaching paraphernalia including snares, water containers and a bow. Another helicopter patrol picked up fresh footprints of two individuals at a waterhole in the park, but the not so fresh tracks were later lost in difficult terrain.

The shooting blind, though not fresh, was found in close proximity to where an elephant was sighted with what appeared to be an arrow shaft protruding from an infected wound on its side. It took several days to successfully locate and treat the bull elephant, as it frequently disappeared in thick riverine forest on the Tiva River. Eventually, however, the elephant was spotted and the KWS/SWT Tsavo Mobile Vet was collected with his assistant in the Cessna Caravan.

They were brought to Kaluku before being loaded into the SWT helicopter and taken to the scene where a successful treatment was conducted, and the elephant was given a good prognosis.

Other aerial assistance provided to the vet teams included a transfer flight of the Amboseli Vet to Tsavo to assist with the treatment of an injured sub-adult elephant in Tsavo West. Unfortunately, after darting the young elephant from a helicopter it was discovered that he suffered from what appeared to be a broken front left shoulder. Due to the nature and severity of the injury, intervention was not possible, and therefore the prognosis is guarded. He was, however, given anti-inflammatories and antibiotics to help the healing process. A transfer flight in helicopter was also conducted with the Voi Vet to do an autopsy on a dead, female rhino in the Chyulu Hills National Park. The rhino is thought to have died of natural causes. Finally, a fixed wing aircraft was used to locate a sick, adult, male cheetah on Kulalu Ranch, which was later treated by the vet. Ongoing monitoring will be required.

On a positive note, there was a massive decrease in Human-Elephant Conflict callouts in March, even compared to last year. Only three cases were attended to. While one attempt was unsuccessful, on the other two occasions, elephants were successfully pushed out of farmland and back into Tsavo East.

Some other illegal activities discovered in the parks during the month were the following: illegal mining (for gemstones) in Tsavo West, marijuana cultivation in the cloud forest in Chyulu Hills NP, honey harvesting and one charcoal kiln. There has been a gradual decrease in logging activity over the years in Tsavo, but a slight uptick more recently. In March 10 freshly cut trees were found in the north-western corner of Tsavo East, and slightly further south, several cut trees being used for the construction of beehives were also found. Much further south, in the Shimba Hills National Park, one of our pilots discovered a pitsaw camp in the forest. Later follow-up found that the camp was vacant.

Only two elephant carcasses were found by the Aerial Unit in March, and both were very old with tusks intact, and most likely the result of natural deaths.

One orphaned elephant was spotted on a helicopter patrol, standing alone, trying to drink water from a muddy waterhole. After a thorough search for the calf’s mother/family, no other elephants were found in the area. Upon closer inspection, it became obvious that the calf had been separated from its mother for several days, as it was visibly dehydrated and malnourished. At only 5 months old, the calf was small enough to be airlifted in the helicopter where it was taken for specialized care.

Apart from animal rescues, the helicopters are occasionally used for CASEVACs. This month, the helicopter responded to a callout from KWS who reported that a ranger had been shot in the foot by an accidental discharge of his weapon.

The ranger was collected and ferried to hospital to have the wound treated.

Our pilots got to enjoy some amazing scenes in March, with hundreds of elephants and other plains game concentrated along the Galana River and Tiva rivers. Predators, as well, were seen in huge numbers. A total of more than 50 lions in 11 sightings, were seen during the month (disclaimer: it is possible that some of the same individuals were seen on multiple occasions). One of these sightings was of lions on a giraffe kill. Two separate patrols produced multiple wild dog sightings. Elsewhere, one of our pilots was treated to three very rare (in Kenya) sightings of sable antelope in Shimba Hills National Park, which hosts the last population in the country.

Photographs copyright © 2022 The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust