DSWT Anti-Poaching Units January 2015 Report

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

ANTI-POACHING UNITS MONTHLY REPORT

JANUARY 2015

JANUARY 2015

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

JANUARY 2015 MONTHLY SUMMARY: ALL UNITS TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED: TOTAL ARRESTS MADE: TOTAL WEAPON/EQUIPMENT CONFISCATIONS: TOTAL ILLEGAL STRUCTURES DESTROYED:

289 23 16 19

January saw a sharp increase in snaring activity over last month. Meru team alone recovered 179 snares, mostly intended for small game. The total for all teams was 289 in addition to 26 that were confiscated from poachers before they could be set.

Chyulu team had the most arrests, capturing 12 people for a variety of activities including illegal livestock, logging and harvesting Miraa. Meru, however, arrested 4 ivory poachers in two incidents during the month. Other arrests included two charcoal burners by Ziwani, two loggers and a wood carver by Kenze, and an additional two woodcarvers by Mtito.

Significant confiscations included 15 kg of bushmeat by the Meru team, 112 wood carvings by Mtito team as well as 13 cedar posts by Kenze team. The teams also managed to destroy 10 charcoal kilns, 2 poachers’ hideouts, 2 shooting blinds and a shooting platform.

Two teams were involved in treating injured elephants. Early in the month the Ithumba team, while on patrol, spotted the tracks of an elephant that appeared to be injured. They successfully followed the tracks and directed aerial support to pinpoint the exact location of the elephant and were then instrumental in a swift operation with the KWS vet to free the elephant from a large cable snare which had gotten caught around its leg. The Mtito team also aided the KWS vet in treating another elephant that suffered from a poisoned arrow injury near Kamboyo in Tsavo West. Both elephants are expected to make a full recovery.

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

MAP OF ALL UNIT’S PATROL ROUTES

MAP OF ALL UNIT’S ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

JANUARY 2015

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

DAILY SITUATION REPORT MONTHLY SUMMARY – JANUARY 2015

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED – JANUARY 2015 - All Teams

TOTAL ARRESTS MADE – JANUARY 2015 - All Teams

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS JANUARY 2015

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

JANUARY 2015 CHYULU TEAM PATROL AREA: Chyulu National Park, Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIVESTOCK INTRUSION 6/1/15

The team arrested a herder for illegally entering the Park with his livestock

WOOD CARVING 7/1/15

A camp was found in the Chyulus were a gang of wood carvers had been operating

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

CHARCOAL BURNER 8/1/15

The Chyulu arrested a charcoal burner caught operating within the Park cutting trees and making charcoal

LIVESTOCK GRAZING 9/1/15

Culprits were arrested by the team for illegally grazing in the park with their livestock

CHARCOAL KILNS 9/1/15

During routine patrols the Chyulu team destroyed a number of active charcoal kilns

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

MIRAA HARVESTERS 12/1/15

The team caught a miraa harvester operating in the Chyulu Hills National Park

ILLEGAL LOGGING 17/1/15

The team found evidence of extensive illegal logging in the Chyulu Hills, the suspects had run away

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

CHYULU UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

JANUARY 2015 KENZE TEAM PATROL AREA: Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS WOOD CARVER 1/1/15

The Kenze team arrested a wood carver in the Kisula area

ILLEGAL LOGGING 7/1/15

The team found signs of illegal activity in the Duwa including wood collection and a makeshift camp

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

LIFTING SNARES 7/1/15

The Kenze team lifted a number of small wire snares from the Duwa area

MINING ACTIVITIES 13/1/15

The team found signs of mining in the Algon area

LOGGERS ARRESTED 27/1/15

The team during a night ambush caught a number of men illegally cutting hardwood in the forest

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

KENZE UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

JANUARY 2015 ZIWANI TEAM PATROL AREA: Central sector of Tsavo West NP south of the Tsavo River DAYS ON DUTY: 11

SECURITY & INCIDENTS CHARCOAL BURNING 21/1/15

The Ziwani team sighted a freshly used charcoal kiln while patrolling in the Park

BUSH FIRES 21/1/15

The team found the remains of bushfires intentionally lit by the locals to create poaching grounds

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

ELEPHANT DAMAGE 23/1/15

The team visited a maize farm damaged by crop-raiding elephants bordering the Park

ELEPHANT CARCASS 23/1/15

Three week old carcass poisoned with water melon as it had vomited those pieces with blood

ILLEGAL LOGGING 24/1/15

Illegal logging was sighted within the Park, showing hard wood being logged

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

SHOOTING BLIND 25/1/15

The Ziwani team found a used shooting blind at a waterhole in the Park and destroyed it

SHOOTING PLATFORM 25/1/15

The team destroyed a shooting platform at the Kangenchwa area built to target elephants

ILLEGAL LOGGING 30/1/15

The team has seen significant signs of illegal logging which has escalated in the ranches

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

ZIWANI UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

JANUARY 2015 MTITO TEAM PATROL AREA: Tsavo Triangle, northern sector of Tsavo West NP & surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS ILLEGAL LOGGING 5/1/15

The Mtito team found significant signs of Mangelete area

Illegal logging at the

CHARCOAL BURNING 6/1/15

The team found a recent charcoal kiln in the Tsavo Triangle and destroyed it

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

ELEPHANT CARCASS 15/1/15

The DSWT aerial unit spotted this elephant carcass from the air. The Mtito team followed up and found an arrow wound with tusks missing

SHOOTING BLIND 15/1/15

The Mtito team found a shooting blind in the Kamboyo area and destroyed it

ELEPHANT TREATMENT 17/1/15

The team helped the Tsavo Mobile Unit to treat an elephant with an arrow wound

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

CHARCOAL KILN 21/1/15

The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln in the Mangalete area

ILLEGAL LOGGING 27/1/15

The team found a pile of wood ready for charcoal burning along the Mtito river

WOOD CARVING 28/1/15

The team arrested two men for illegally entering the Chyulu Hills area to cut wood for carving

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

POACHERS CAMP 29/1/15

The team found an old poachers camp and bow in the Manyani area of Tsavo West

LIFTING SNARES 31/1/15

The team found a number of snares along the Athi River set to trap small antelopes and other animals

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

MTITO UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

JANUARY 2015 ITHUMBA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP, northern boundary & Gazi DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS DE-SNARING EXERCISE 7/1/15

The team carried out a desnaring exercise at Tundani area

SHOOTING BLIND 7/1/15

The Ndovu (Ithumba) unit destroyed a shooting blind used by poachers at the Tundani area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

SHOOTING BLIND 8/1/15

The Ithumba team found another shooting blind near the Umauama area and destroyed it

SHOOTING BLIND 9/1/15

The team discovered another shooting blind in the Tundani area next to a water hole and destroyed it

ELEPHANT TREATMENT 13/1/15

The Ithumba team worked with the Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit in treating an injured elephant

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

SHOOTING BLIND 21/1/15

The Ithumba team found a shooting blind near the Leslau area and destroyed it

ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES 22/1/15

The Ithumba team impounded two bicycles and four huge logs at the Umbi area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

ITHUMBA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

JANUARY 2015 BURRA TEAM PATROL AREA: Southern sector of Tsavo East NP & the Taita Ranches DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS Photos are unavailable this month for the Burra Unit

CHARCOAL KILN 6/1/15

The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln on Taru Ranch

LIFTING SNARES 8/1/15

The team lifted 54 snares laid within the Kilabasi area set to catch small and large game for bushmeat

TRACKING POACHERS 9/1/15

Following a tip-off the Burra team in conjunction with armed KWS rangers followed the trail of Somali poachers in the Kalonzo area

LIFTING SNARES 12/1/15

The team lifted a number of medium sized snares found within the K.A.R.I area in Bachuma

CHARCOAL KILN 18/1/15

A charcoal kiln was discovered and destroyed in the Taita ranch area

LIFTING SNARES 20/1/15

The Burra team lifted 8 snares at the Sagala Ranch area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

BURRA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

JANUARY 2015 TIVA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP with a focus along the Tiva River DAYS ON DUTY: 30

SECURITY & INCIDENTS SNARED WILD DOG 21/1/15

The team was called to assist with the tracking of a wild dog which had been sighted with a snare around its neck

CHARCOAL BURNING 27/1/15

The team found large scale logging and charcoal burning taking place in the Gazi area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

LIVESTOCK INTRUSION 27/1/15

JANUARY 2015

The Tiva team found livestock within the Park at the Gazi area and pushed the cattle back out

TIVA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

JANUARY 2015 YATTA MOBILE TEAM (Meru National Park) PATROL AREA: This is a mobile anti-poaching team currently operating in Meru and the northern and eastern conservation area DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS IVORY POACHERS 5/1/15

The Yatta team is still operating in Meru. They arrested two young men with ivory at the Kathithine area

SHOOTING PLATFORM 12/1/15

The team found and destroyed a shooting platform at the Kiolu area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

LIFTING SNARES 14/1/15

A number of medium snares were found and confiscated from the Kindani area

POACHERS CAMP 15/1/15

The team found a recently used fire in a poachers camp and followed tracks finding a number of snares in the mk11 area

LIFTING SNARES 19/1/15

A number of medium snares were collected from the Kiolu area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

SNARED DIKDIK 20/1/15

The team found a snared dikdik carcass at the shifta rock area

POACHERS ARRESTED 21/1/15

The team arrested 2 poachers with snares and poisoned arrows as well as a number of dikdik carcasses

LIFTING SNARES 25/1/15

Very large strong snares were lifted at the mk9 area which had been set to catch buffalo and large game

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

SHOOTING PLATFORM 26/10/14

A shooting platform was found and destroyed at the Ciabaringo area, which is used to poach elephants with poisoned arrows

LIFTING SNARES 28/10/14

The team collected a number of small snares and destroyed another shooting platform in the MK9 area of Meru National Park

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015

YATTA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

JANUARY 2015