DSWT Aerial Surveillance Unit Report October 2017

AERIAL SURVEILLANCE UNIT MONTHLY REPORT

OCTOBER 2017

AERIAL STATISTICS

OCTOBER 2017

217.87 HOURS FLOWN

28,843.5 KMS COVERED

AREAS PATROLLED

Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Galana Ranch, Kulalu Ranch, Taita Ranches, Chyulu Hills NP, Mara, Amu Ranch, Lamu

OCTOBER 2017

MONTHLY AERIAL PATROL MAP

MONTHLY AERIAL SUMMARY October was a difficult month, with the worsening drought claiming huge numbers of elephants. Nearly every flight in the southern sector of Tsavo East revealed at least one new carcass sighting, and it was not uncommon to find three or four carcasses in a single flight. Tragically, many of the lives claimed were of juvenile elephants as well as several old females with long, magnificent ivory. It is important to note that rather than a lack of water, it was a lack of food that has been killing elephants and other wildlife. Many parts of the Park received inadequate rainfall last season, so browse and vegetation was already limited.

To further complicate matters, early on in the year, a massive influx of livestock was illegally herded into the Park, escaping severe drought in other parts of the country. The livestock prematurely depleted natural waterholes and vegetation, forcing wildlife to concentrate around a drastically reduced number of water sources both natural and man-made. As part of the DSWT’s water resource management initiatives, water holes were filled manually further afield with water bowsers in an attempt to provide alternatives; however, there were many animals for which it was too late.

An elephant that perished during the drought

It was lack of vegetation and browse that killed these victims of the drought, not a lack of water

The silver lining is that the teams were able to provide a second chance for several elephant calves that lost their mothers to the drought, two of which were spotted during routine aerial patrols. One of them was found in the company of two bulls very close to the site where a female elephant carcass was discovered a few days earlier by the DSWT helicopter. With assistance from the helicopter, the calf was airlifted directly to the Nairobi orphanage to be cared for, something that would not have been possible in the past without the use of the new Eurocopter.

Although this calf had the protection of two bulls, they couldn’t have kept the baby alive, necessitating its rescue by the DSWT

The capture and rescue of the orphaned calf in the company of the two bulls

The calf being loaded into the DSWT Eurocopter for a flight to the Nairobi Nursery

The helicopter also had a busy month including darting and treating an elephant with an injured foot in the Maasai Mara, whilst Tsavo-based operations included retrieving two sets of ivory, discovering and destroying many shooting blinds and snares set near watering holes as well as shooting platforms in trees and a number of poachers’ camps.

Two poached elephants were also discovered, which led to contact between the poachers and KWS rangers; however, the poachers unfortunately escaped. The helicopter was also called out three times with the DSWT Dog Unit to follow the tracks of poachers discovered near Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. The team was too far behind the tracks and unable to catch up with the poachers before they escaped, but their harbour with bedrolls, bow and poisoned arrows was discovered, and all items were confiscated.

Patrolling from the skies and destroying poaching camps and shooting blinds

Treating an injured elephant in the Maasai Mara

Elsewhere, cattle intrusion into the Parks remains an issue; however, KWS has been successfully pushing cattle out of Tsavo East and making arrests of herders. Tsavo West and the Chyulus had larger numbers of cattle during the month and sadly herders in the Chyulu Hills were able to start widespread fires, which raged on for much of the month. With 40 casual workers funded by the DSWT, it took the teams over a week to put out one particular bush fire near the Kibwezi Forest.

In the future, the Aerial Unit hopes to purchase a “Bambi Bucket� that can be carried beneath the helicopter to move quickly and effectively to put out forest fires in the Chyulus and elsewhere. Charcoal burning also made a comeback in the Chyulus with 12 charcoal kilns being sighted on one patrol. A ground team was sent in to destroy the kilns.

Livestock found illegally in the Chyulu Hills National Park

Deadly bush fires started by livestock herders in the Chyulu Hills

Firefighting teams were assembled to beat back fires with water and firebreaks in the Chyulu Hills

Highlights in October included the eventual arrival of the rains in parts of the Park including the flooding of the seasonal Tiva River as well as the Athi River, which had nearly dried up, whilst over 1000 elephants were attracted to the corner of Kulalu Ranch for fresh water and browse. One of the pilots was lucky enough to witness a pride of lions lying on the dry Athi riverbed when the floods arrived, only deciding to move once the water was upon them.

Another highlight was a sighting of more than 40 wild dogs as well as numerous sightings of leopard. In fact, the only animals that have thrived during the drought have been predators, scavengers and giraffes, the latter of which are able to reach vegetation that no other animals can. Giraffes were seen frequently and in large numbers throughout October.

After the rains huge herds of elephants congregated around Kulalu Ranch

Photographs copyright © 2017 The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust