DSWT Aerial Surveillance Unit Report May 2018

AERIAL SURVEILLANCE UNIT MONTHLY REPORT

MAY 2018

AERIAL STATISTICS

HOURS FLOWN

KMS COVERED

AREAS PATROLLED

MAY 2018

189

24,593

Tsavo’s East and West, Taita Ranches, Kishushe Ranch, Oza Ranch, Mbulia Ranch, Chyulus Hills, Amu Ranch

MAY 2018

MONTHLY AERIAL PATROL MAP

MONTHLY AERIAL SUMMARY The Tsavo rains largely dissipated in May in much of the Conservation Area, whilst parts of Tsavo have already begun to dry off. Many waterholes still hold water and elephants continue congregating in large herds, especially in the Southern sector of Tsavo East, where herds as large as 200 were regularly sighted from the air.

On Amu Ranch in Lamu County, one of DSWT’s Community Initiatives and a Saving Habitats project, huge amounts of rain made ground patrols by vehicle impossible, and the Aerial Unit was requested to assist with aerial patrols. In contrast to the last time we patrolled Lamu, when there were carcasses of hundreds of hippos that had died of lack of food and water due to drought, Amu was a veritable oasis. Many large water pans and seasonal lakes were not only full but also overflowing into adjacent palm forests. The whole spectacle was quite something to behold with the area absolutely saturated.

Back in Tsavo, poaching activity was generally low, attributable in part to the flooding of the Athi/Galana River, which is still impossible to cross. However, our ground teams began to detect some human activity and on one occasion a ground team surprised a pair of armed poachers on the Yatta Plateau. The helicopter was immediately mobilised to deploy the K9 Unit and aerial coverage was provided by one of the super cubs. The super cub’s support was unfortunately interrupted by engine trouble, which necessitated a forced landing at a nearby airstrip. This operation is being handled by KWS and is still on-going, so not too much more can be said at this sensitive time.

Several shooting blinds were also discovered on fixed wing and helicopter patrols and subsequently destroyed, however, no new blinds were sighted. This is not unusual for this time of year although poaching activity is expected to pick up in the next few months as things dry off and wildlife begins to concentrate in specific areas.

Aside from livestock incursions, the majority of illegal activities were sighted in the Chyulu Hills, consisting mainly of marijuana cultivation and logging for charcoal burning. Towards the end of the KWS ground operation which has been taking place to uproot the dozens of acres of marijuana discovered in the preceding months, the Aerial Unit (both fixed wing and helicopter) conducted surveys to identify the last remaining patches of marijuana. It became apparent that some of the first plantations to be cleared have started re-growing in smaller patches, so follow-up operations by KWS will be necessary to rid the hills completely. On one occasion, the helicopter interrupted 4 individuals actively harvesting marijuana. Frustratingly there was nowhere to land, and they escaped. The plot has since been destroyed, and as the DSWT unshortable fence being constructed along the Eastern Boundary of the Chyulus nears completion, it should be increasingly difficult for people to move in and out; this should dramatically curb both marijuana farming and the chopping down of forests that this activity causes, along with reducing illegal logging, charcoal burning and poaching.

Large numbers of charcoal kilns were discovered during aerial patrols and although the first few ambushes were unsuccessful, the ground teams eventually succeeded in arresting 9 people on two separate days as a result of sightings from the air.

Only one elephant carcass was discovered during the month by the DSWT helicopter. Its tusks were recovered, and the cause of death was ruled as natural.

The DSWT helicopter was also involved in two separate cases assisting KWS and communities with human-wildlife conflict challenges and was able to push unwanted elephants out of community land and back into the National Parks.

The first pair of bull elephants were discovered by a DSWT fixed wing first, and then pushed back through a dropped section of fence along the northern boundary into Tsavo East near Ithumba. These particular elephants had been evading detection by the aircraft for over a month, despite repeated attempts to find them, so it was a huge relief when they were finally found and to have them back in the safety of the Park and out of the community where they were becoming increasingly unpopular with farmers.

The second HWC case was near Kenze gate in the Chyulus and unfortunately, despite receiving information concerning a pair of elephants in a small patch of forest adjacent to the fence, they were not located the first occasion, but the fixed wing aircraft later found them. The helicopter was also called upon to airlift the DSWT/KWS K9 unit based in Tsavo to Meru National Park where 3 rhinos had been poached the previous night. While the dogs have since returned to Tsavo, KWS’s investigation is on-going regarding this case.

A highlight of the month was the arrival of a new Bambi bucket. This is an attachment for the Eurocopter B3 which is able to airlift water at any time and will allow the helicopter to fight fires just as they start, especially in the Chyulu Hills. It is capable of dumping 820 litres of water onto fires and will allow us to rapidly access and fight fires in hard to reach areas. Fires were recently identified as the biggest threat to vegetation and habitat in the Chyulu Hills, and the Bambi bucket will be an essential tool to combat this threat.

Photographs copyright © 2018 The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust