DSWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Report August 2016

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ANTI-POACHING UNITS MONTHLY REPORT

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AUGUST 2016 MONTHLY SUMMARY: ALL UNITS TOTAL SNARES RECOVERED & COLLECTED: TOTAL ARRESTS MADE: TOTAL WEAPON/EQUIPMENT CONFISCATIONS: TOTAL ILLEGAL STRUCTURES DESTROYED:

1336 41 153 44

During August the teams were faced with another busy month and worked seamlessly alongside the DSWT’s Aerial Surveillance Unit and Dog Unit in patrolling and providing security over the TCA. One case saw the teams pursue a suspect on foot for over 10kms through Tsavo East National Park and into the bordering community, where they finally were able to detain the suspected poacher for questioning.

Such like last month the teams collected a huge number of snares, 1336 in total with the Yatta team confiscating nearly 800 from arrested poachers and the Tiva team lifting nearly 300 which had already been set along animal paths in the bush.

In total the teams made 41 arrests this month with the Kenze teams making 13 arrests for logging, charcoal burning and livestock herding, whilst covering for the Chyulu team who were on leave. The Yatta team made 14 successful arrests including 9 bush-meat poachers and the others arrested for charcoal burning, logging and wood carving.

Human-Wildlife Conflict is an ongoing challenge in the TCA and the Kenze team were working particularly hard this month with support from the Aerial Unit in resolving elephant issues in communities bordering the Kibwezi Forest and the Chyulu Hills.

The Yatta, Burra and Tiva team each uncovered an elephant carcass during August yet the number of carcasses discovered by the ground and air teams in the TCA has significantly dropped in comparison to previous years showing that the DSWT’s multi-faceted approach to safeguarding the Tsavo ecosystem is proving hugely successful.

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MAP OF ALL UNIT’S PATROL ROUTES

MAP OF ALL UNIT’S ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

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DAILY SITUATION REPORT MONTHLY SUMMARY – AUGUST 2016

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TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED – AUGUST 2016 - All Teams

TOTAL ARRESTS MADE – AUGUST 2016 - All Teams

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AUGUST 2016 DSWT ANTI-POACHING DOG UNIT MONTHLY SUMMARY During the DSWT’s new Dog Unit’s second month of operations the team have been continuing their extensive training exercises with the support of expert trainers from Canine Specialists International in Tanzania. During such training they cover all of the basics like obedience, daily tracking as well as extensive time on helicopter drills.

At the beginning of the month the Dog Unit was flown to Ithumba to assist the Tiva team in tracking footprints found in the Park suspected to be from a poacher. The team tracked the footprints successfully for approximately 10km but had to call the search off due to extremely high temperatures.

The team continued the search the next morning and followed the tracks to a nearby community outside the northern fence line. The suspect they were after had however heard that they were on his trail and escaped. Although this mission did not result in an arrest, the message was certainly clear that we do have the ability to successfully track would be perpetrators.

During another mission the Dog Unit was dispatched to the eastern side of the Yatta to assist the Yatta team in following two sets of suspected poacher’s footprints. While the Yatta team tracked back up the mountain, one of the dogs and his handler backtracked on the footprints and were led to what was believed to be the suspect’s original hideout. At the scene fresh Dik Dik intestines were found.

This information was passed on to the Yatta team who were then also assisted by the DSWT Aerial Unit who were monitoring the operation from the air. The operation resulted in the arrest of one suspect by the Yatta team.

Similar activities during the month included the dogs tracking suspicious footprints along the Athi river, which led them to a fresh charcoal kiln, which the team destroyed although no suspects were arrested. The Dog Unit team also received a tip-off from a member of the community about suspected bush-meat poachers. The dogs visited a house in the nearby community and managed to arrest three suspects for being in possession of fresh Dik Dik meat. The suspects were handed over to Mtito Andei Police.

Towards the end of the month the DSWT’s helicopter pilot, while on patrol, noticed two suspects with two fresh Kudu carcasses on the eastern side of the Yatta plateau. As a result of extremely thick undergrowth they lost sight of the suspects and decided to deploy the Dog Unit for backup. Despite rapid response of all the units involved the suspects were able to evade the teams in the harsh terrain.

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INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS AUGUST 2016

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AUGUST 2016 ZIWANI TEAM PATROL AREA: Central sector of Tsavo West NP south of the Tsavo River DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS CHARCOAL BURNING 2/8/16

The Ziwani team found illegal charcoal burning at Oza ranch along with logging activities

LION ROAD ACCIDENT 3/8/16

A lion was sadly hit by a vehicle near Taita hills lodge and the team were requested to follow up on the incident

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LIVESTOCK INTRUSION 6/8/16

The team found Illegal livestock grazing in the Ziwani area and evicted the livestock

ELEPHANT TREATMENT 7/8/16

An injured elephant was sighted by the team at Salt lick area and the DSWT/KWS Vet Unit was called in to treat its injured foot

ELEPHANT MONITORING 14/8/16

The team were able to monitor the treated elephant on the 7th noting it was recovering well seeing it with its herd at Salt Lick

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LIFTING SNARES 17/8/16

Team members lifting snares in the Lualenyi area

HONEY HARVESTING 20/8/16

Illegal honey harvesting was found at the Maktau area

LIFTING SNARES 20/8/16

Many snares were lifted during the day at the Maktau area

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POACHERS CAMP 26/8/16

A fresh poachers camp found at the Kishushe area. Tracks were followed by the team

BUFFALO RESCUE 28/8/16

A buffalo stuck in a mud pool at the Mwatate sisal estate was rescued by the team

ELEPHANT CALF SEARCH 30/8/16

An aerial recce assisting in searching for an orphan elephant at the Rombo area, whilst the team patrolled on the ground

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ZIWANI UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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AUGUST 2016 TIVA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP with a focus along the Tiva River DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS TRACKING POACHERS 3/8/16

The Dog Unit worked with the Tiva team having found a poachers camp with dikdik remains. The teams tracked the poachers out of the Park

CHARCOALERS CAMP 6/8/16

The team raided a charcoal burners hideout and destroyed it at Umbi area. The offenders had fled

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POACHER RAID 11/8/16

Conducting a raid at a poacher’s home after getting information of his involvement in small game poaching

ELEPHANT TRAP 12/8/16

An old elephant trap that was found and destroyed in the Kyaerock area

BUSHMEAT SNARING 17/8/16

Carcasses of two snared lesser kudus were found at Tiva Umaaaumaa area along with a number of set snares which were removed

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SHOOTING PLATFORM 19/8/16

A shooting platform and blind was sighted and destroyed at the Tundani area

LIFTING SNARES 20/8/16

Team undertaking a de-snaring exercise at Kimweri area

ARRESTED POACHERS 26/8/16

Poachers arrested by Yatta team with support from Tiva team at Tiva valley with loads of snares and other poaching apparatus

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ELEPHANT CARCASS 30/8/16

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Recent carcass of a poached elephant sighted by DSWT helicopter as it was patrolling. The tusks were missing.

TIVA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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AUGUST 2016 KENZE TEAM PATROL AREA: Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS CHARCOAL/ LIVESTOCK 3/8/16

The Kenze team found cattle grazing illegally in the Utu area whilst they also found destroyed a charcoal kiln. Herder arrests were made

LOGGING ARRESTS 4/8/16

Men were arrested for illegal firewood collection in the Kari area

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LIFTING SNARES 10/8/16

Medium and small snares were found and removed from the Kari area

CHARCOAL BURNING 15/8/16

A charcoal burner was arrested in the Utu area and a kiln was destoyed

HONEY HARVESTING 17/8/16

Beehives were found in the Kari area and removed.

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CHARCOAL BURNING 18/8/16

Charcoal burners were arrested in the Utu area and the camp was destroyed along with a charcoal kiln

HUMAN-WILDLIFE CASE 25/8/16

There was a human wildlife conflict case in the Wayani area following reports of elephants breaking fences

LIFTING SNARES 27/8/16

The team found and removed snares set by poachers in the Kari area

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KENZE UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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AUGUST 2016 BURRA TEAM PATROL AREA: Southern sector of Tsavo East NP & the Taita Ranches DAYS ON DUTY: 11

SECURITY & INCIDENTS BUSHMEAT POACHER 21/8/16

The Burra team arrested a poacher with a catapult and stones used for poaching birds and small game at the Ndara area

ILLEGAL LOGGING 22/8/16

A pile of dry and wet wood found at Mbulia ranch

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ELEPHANT CARCASS 24/8/16

NO IMAGES AVAILABLE FOR THIS CASE

CHARCOAL BURNING 28/8/16

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An elephant carcass was found at the Bachuma area with both tusks which were recovered by KWS officers

NO IMAGES AVAILABLE FOR THIS CASE

An active charcoal kiln was found at Mbulia ranch which the team destroyed

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BURRA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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AUGUST 2016 MERU TEAM (Meru National Park) PATROL AREA: This is a mobile team operating in the Meru Conservation Area and National Park DAYS ON DUTY: 30

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIFTING SNARES 1/8/16

The Meru lifted a big snares found within the Mike 9 area set to trap elephants and large game

LIFTING SNARES 8/8/16

The team lifted medium snares set in the Kiolu area

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POACHER’S CAMP 12/8/16

The team found a poacher's hideout in the Rojewero area

SHOOTING PLATFORM 14/8/16

A shooting platform was found and destroyed at the Kindani area

POACHERS CAMP 15/8/16

A poacher's hideout was found at the Kiolu area with snares in the area

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ELEPHANT TREATMENT 16/8/16

An elephant was sighted with a snare on her trunk and was treated by the DSWT/KWS Sky Vet program

BUSH FIRE 22/8/16

A fire was put out in the Park before it spread too far

LIFTING SNARES 28/8/16

Lifting medium snares at the Ura area

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MERU UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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AUGUST 2016 ITHUMBA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP, northern boundary & Gazi DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIFTING SNARES 3/8/16

Snare lifting along the Powerline area whilst patrolling with the new DSWT Dog Unit

TRACKING FOOTPRINTS 4/8/16

The Ithumba team and the DSWT Dog Unit followed tracks through the park to a homestead on the boundary where they believed a poacher was

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ILLEGAL LOGGING 11/8/16

Illegal logging activities were found in the Tundani area and tracks were followed

BUSHMEAT POACHING 16/8/16

Two poached lesser kudus were sighted from the air by the DSWT Aerial Unit and the Ithumba team followed up to investigate

ELEPHANT CONFLICT 18/8/16

An elephant was sighted within the community and was later pushed back into the park by the teams

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SHOOTING BLIND 23/8/16

Destruction of shooting blind erected along the Tiva river

POACHERS HIDE 27/8/16

A recent poachers hide found at Tundani area under a rock. Snares were also found in the area

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ITHUMBA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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AUGUST 2016 MOBILE TEAM PATROL AREA: This team is mobile and works where it is needed the most DAYS ON DUTY: 24

SECURITY & INCIDENTS BIRD TRAP 4/8/16

A bird trap was found and removed at the Tharakana area

LOGGER ARRESTED 4/8/16

The team arrested a logger who was operating in the Athi area

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CHARCOALERS ARRESTED 6/8/16

The team arrested charcoal burners in the Ngazi area who were found building a new charcoal kiln

LIVESTOCK INTRUSION 14/8/16

The team evicted livestock from the Park and a recently used camp was found in the same area, potentially used by the herders or a poacher

CHARCOAL KILN 18/8/16

The team found a charcoal kiln and camp in the Ngazi area and destroyed them both

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MOBILE UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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AUGUST 2016 YATTA TEAM PATROL AREA: Yatta Plateaux & northern sector of Tsavo East NP DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS CHARCOAL BURNING 7/8/16

The Yatta team found and destroyed charcoal kilns at Gazi

WOOD CARVING 8/8/16

The team arrested illegal wood carvers at the Mangelete area

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ELEPHANT CARCASS 9/8/16

Elephant carcass found in the Mangelete area. This wild bull was known by the KWS as Pembe Moja. His one tusk was taken by KWS

ILLEGAL LOGGING 12/8/16

Illegal loggers at Gazi arrested by the team with recently logged wood from the park

BUSHMEAT POACHER 15/8/16

Illegal Bush meat poacher was arrested in his camp with skinned animals in the Yatta area

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CHARCOAL BURNING 17/8/16

Destroying an active charcoal kiln in the Park

LIFTING SNARES 19/8/16

Lifting of snares at Gazi

POACHER ARRESTED 19/8/16

Poacher arrested at Yatta area with a bow, arrow, snares and bushmeat

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POACHERS ARRESTED 26/8/16

Poachers arrested at their hideout at Yatta Plateau with snares and bushmeat poaching equipment

CABLE SNARE 27/8/16

Lifting a winch cable at the Yatta area set to trap an elephant

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YATTA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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AUGUST 2016 MTITO TEAM PATROL AREA: Tsavo Triangle, northern sector of Tsavo West NP & surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 12

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIFTING SNARES 21/8/16

The Mtito team collected a number of small/medium snares

ILLEGAL LOGGING 23/8/16

The team found signs of illegal logging in the Park and followed tracks

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SANDALWOOD 24/8/16

Signs of sandalwood harvesting were found in the Park. Sandalwood is a valuable resource which is often illegally extracted

WOOD CARVING 24/8/16

Two woodcarvers were arrested in their makeshift camp carving wooden spoons for sale in the community from illegally logged wood

LIVESTOCK HERDER 29/8/16

A livestock herder was arrested in his camp cooking cows meat in the Park

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MTITO UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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