Dswt Anti-Poaching Units Report October 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

ANTI-POACHING UNITS MONTHLY REPORT

OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 MONTHLY SUMMARY: ALL UNITS TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED: TOTAL ARRESTS MADE: TOTAL WEAPON/EQUIPMENT CONFISCATIONS: TOTAL ILLEGAL STRUCTURES DESTROYED:

479 52 28 13

As the long dry season comes to an end this month it brings with it added pressure on the Parks as the poor communities bordering these areas have become increasingly desperate and hungry with little opportunity for work. This has increased incidences of illegal activity, which in October have been widespread and common. To help address this escalation in illegal activities the KWS has increased their ranger force this month allowing for 3 KWS rangers to accompany each of the DSWT’s teams on patrol, whilst they have also committed to training new rangers.

Combined, the DSWT’s anti-poaching units made 52 arrests during the month of which 9 were bushmeat poachers, 13 charcoal burners, 11 livestock herders and an additional 17 arrests were made for logging, woodcarving, trespassing and theft. The Meru team also arrested an ivory poacher and the Ithumba team arrested a rhino horn poacher, who is currently on trial. The Chyulu and Kenze teams successfully ambushed a bushmeat camp in the Chyulu Hills National Park, recovering 200kg of poached bushmeat. This area has seen increased incidences of lamping at night (a crude poaching technique to blind and batter an animal) where wildlife is targeted specifically for the bushmeat trade and sold illegally at a commercial level. The Tiva team were on annual leave for the whole of the month and are due to return to their patrolling within Tsavo East in November.

In total 479 snares of various sizes were collected from the field, the Meru team excelling in recovering snares along the park boundary; on one day alone they picked up 92 snares and destroyed a shooting platform constructed to poach elephants. Fires have also been prevalent throughout the country this month and the Chyulu, Kenze and Meru teams have been active in the fight to contain and put out bush fires which have gotten out of control, especially in the Chyulu Hills, Tsavo West and Meru National Park, where a violent fire lasted for 3 days.

A special operation was conducted during the month at the request of the KWS in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, which lies along Kenya’s northern coastline. This also came at a time when the Trust’s aircraft sighted an elephant carcass in the Forest during a patrol. The Mtito team was selected to travel to the Forest and worked alongside a KWS and Kenya Forest Service team to investigate the elephant carcass, which the teams confirmed had been poached and the tusks were missing. Whilst a follow up on the case continues, the Mtito team worked with the KWS/KFS patrolling the Forest and sharing anti-poaching techniques and uncovering further illegal activities.

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

MAP OF ALL UNIT’S PATROL ROUTES

MAP OF ALL UNIT’S ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

OCTOBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

DAILY SITUATION REPORT MONTHLY SUMMARY – OCTOBER 2014 Ndovu Duma Chui (Ithumba) (Chyulu) (Mtito) DAYS ON DUTY

Snares recovered during patrol

Snares confiscated from poachers

Arrests

Confiscations weapons

Confiscations tools/equipmen t

Confiscations Cooking items

Animal DNA

Destroyed

Human sign

Rescued

Small Medium Large Cable Rope Rope with pit Small Medium Large Cable Rope Bushmeat poacher Livestock Livestock minors (instances) Theft Trespassing Rhino horn poacher Ivory poacher Fishing Charcoal Honey harvesting Logging Growing/harvesting marijuana Woodcarving Growing/harvesting Mirraa Panga Bow Rifle Poison arrow Knife Sack of poison Arrow Catapult Spear Jembe Spades Torch Lamp Hand cart Saw Bird trap Axe Fish Trap Rope Wire Carvings Adze Charcoal sacks Motorcycle Bicycle Jerry can Cooking utensils (instances) Food instances Bushmeat (kg) Dik Dik Carcass Kudu Spotted Hyena Carcass Buffalo Carcass Elephant Carcass waterbuck carcass Ivory (# tusks) Elephant tail Giraffe Tail Python Skin Giraffe Carcass Rhino horn Leopard skin Bushbuck carcass Yellow-necked spurfowl Guinea fowl Shooting blind Manyatta Trap Charcoal kiln Shooting platform Poacher's hideout Footprints Logging Bicycle tracks Wood carving Charcoal burning activity Mining Activity Campfire Livestock with no herders (# instances) Miraa harvesting Dikdik Kudu Impala Zebra Elephant Giraffe Rhino Buffalo

Meru

Faru (Bura)

Mamba (Kenze)

Nyati (Tiva) 0

31

31

31

18

20

31

57

22 9 2

27

26 89 52

81

26 1 8

Simba Sub(Ziwani) total Total 15

14

250 130 72 9 14

4

4

11 31 10

9

475

4

6

8 5

1

1 3 1 1

1 3 1 1 3

6 5

4

13

2

7

6

6 5 4

5 3

1

1

1

2

10

7

17

8

8

5

5

5

5

580 36

580 36 14

2 6 1 1

2 6 1 1 200

1

1

14

200

1

1

1

1

1 1 2

4

1 2

2

3

2

1 5 3 4 5 1

1 1

1

1

1

1

3

9 11

1

3

52

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED - OCTOBER 2014 - All Teams

TOTAL ARRESTS MADE - OCTOBER 2014 - All Teams

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS OCTOBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 BURRA TEAM PATROL AREA: Southern sector of Tsavo East NP & the Taita Ranches DAYS ON DUTY: 20

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIFTING SNARES 11/10/14

The team lifted small wire snares set by bushmeat poachers along the Tsavo River

LIFTING SNARES 12/10/14

The team lifted a number of snares laid within the Manyani Plains area set to catch bushmeat

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

ILLEGAL LOGGING 15/10/14

The team found a large number of trees felled illegally in the Ndii area; the culprits had fled the scene

LIFTING SNARES 17/10/14

The team lifted a number of medium sized snares found within the Lion Hill area

POACHED BUFFALO 17/10/14

On routine patrols in the Lion Hill area the team found a poached buffalo carcass

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

CHARCOAL BURNING 23/10/14

The Burra team arrested a man for illegally burning charcoal in the Park boundaries

LIFTING SNARES 24/010/14

The team found a number of medium wire snares set around the Taita ranches

ROAD CLEARING 25/10/14

The team helped to clear a road on Mgeno ranch which had been blocked by trees pushed over by elephants

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

BURRA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 CHYULU TEAM PATROL AREA: Chyulu National Park, Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIFTING SNARES 4/10/14

The team began the month de-snaring in the Chyulu Hills NP and collected a number of medium and large wire snares

BUSH MEAT 7/10/14

A camp was found in the Chyulus were a gang of poachers had been hunting and drying bushmeat.

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

BUSH MEAT 7/10/14

The Chyulu team on a night ambush recovered a large amount of bushmeat, which was being transported out of the Chyulu Hills

POACHERS CAMP 9/10/14

The team found a recently used poachers camp, where poachers had been based bush-meat poaching

LIFTING SNARES 9/10/14

During routine patrols the Chyulu team collected a number of large cable snares set to capture large game

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

CHARCOAL BURNING 10/10/14

The team found a fresh charcoal kiln in the Chyulu Hills and destroyed it

LIVESTOCK INCURSION 13/10/14

The team evicted livestock and donkeys from the Park, which were illegally grazing

MARIJUANA PLANTATION The team found a marijuana plantation in the Chyulu Hills, which is an 21/10/14 illegal drug grown and sold in Kenya

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

POACHERS CAMP 28/10/14

OCTOBER 2014

The team found and arrested charcoal burners operating within the Chyulu Hills

CHYULU UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 KENZE TEAM PATROL AREA: Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIFTING SNARES 4/10/14

The Kenze team lifted a number of small and medium wire snares from the satellite area

POACHERS CAMP 4/10/14

The team found a recently used poachers camp outside of the Kibwezi Forest in woodland lying on the opposite side of the Mombasa road

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

BUSHMEAT 7/10/14

The Kenze team worked with the Chyulu team to confiscate a large amount of bushmeat taken from the Chyulu Hills

LIFTING SNARES 11/10/14

Numerous snares were lifted during routine patrols in the Algon area within the Park

WOOD CARVING HIDE 23/10/14

The team found a wood carving hideout in the Kisula area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

KENZE UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 ZIWANI TEAM PATROL AREA: Central sector of Tsavo West NP south of the Tsavo River DAYS ON DUTY: 16

SECURITY & INCIDENTS BUSH FIRE 16/10/14

The Ziwani team helped to put a bush fire out by creating a firebreak in the Park

CHARCOAL BURNING 19/10/2014

A Recently used charcoal kiln was found in the Salaaita area during a patrol

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

POACHING SNARES 19/10/2014

The team found large cable snares on top of trees targeting giraffes while browsing.

LIFTING SNARES 19/10/2014

Team lifted snares in the park at Salaaita area, which were set for small and larger game

LIFTING SNARES 22/10/2014

Bush meat was dropped by a poacher who was arrested in the Maktau area.

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

BUSH MEAT 23/10/2014

The team found a carcass of a skinned impala which was killed by lamping activities.

POACHERS CAVE 26/10/2014

The team found a poacher's hideout concealed in a cave at the Kichwa tembo area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

ZIWANI UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 MTITO TEAM PATROL AREA: Tsavo Triangle, northern sector of Tsavo West NP & surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS WOOD COLLECTION 2/10/14

The Mtito team arrested a wood collector in the Bondeni area inside Park boundaries

POACHER ARRESTED 2/10/14

The team arrested a poacher laying traps with rope snares within the Park

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

WOOD CARVERS 3/10/14

The team arrested a number of wood carvers and took them to Komboyo station

SOLAR PANEL THIEF 8/10/14

The Mtito team arrested a man who had stolen a solar panel from the DSWT

CHARCOAL BURNING 15/10/14

The team arrested a charcoal burner in the Tsavo Triangle during a nighttime ambush

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

POACHED ELEPHANT 20/10/14

The DSWT aircraft located a poached elephant carcass in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest on Kenya’s north coast. The Mtito team were requested

by KWS to patrol in the Forest finding the carcass with tusks missing

ILLEGAL LOGGING 22/10/14

The team found many signs of illegal logging activities within the Arabuko Sokoke Forest during routine patrols

POACHING TRAP 24/10/14

The team found a large poaching trap in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest set to trap large animals. The trap was destroyed

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

LOGGERS ARRESTED 26/10/14

OCTOBER 2014

The team arrested men logging within the Arabuko Sokoke Forest

MTITO UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 ITHUMBA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP, northern boundary & Gazi DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS BOUNDARY PATROLS 9/10/14

The team checked the Ithumba fence line boundary along the Kanziku area

POACHERS’ HIDE 14/10/14

The Ndovu (Ithumba) unit destroyed an old hideout used by poachers at the Tundani area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

POACHER ARRESTED 17/10/14

The Ithumba team arrested a poacher found selling a rhinoceros horn in Ikutha market

BUFFALO RESCUE 26/10/14

The Ithumba team rescued three buffaloes which got stuck in a sandy water well at the Tiva River near Ndii Ndaza KWS security base

CHARCOAL BURNING 28/10/14

A charcoal burning site was found and destroyed and in the northern area of Tsavo East

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

BUSH MEAT 28/10/1

OCTOBER 2014

The Ithumba team found the remains of four poached and skinned dikdiks found near Nthalakana airstrip

ITHUMBA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014 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: 18

SECURITY & INCIDENTS BUSHFIRE 15/10/14

The Yatta team is still operating in Meru. A large bush fire broke out and all Park staff tried to keep it under control during the night

BUSH FIRE 16/10/14

The team continued to fight the fire the following day beat it back using water and fire breaks

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

BUSH FIRE 17/10/14

On the 3rd day of the fire the crew managed to get the blaze under control and finally stopped it from spreading completely that evening

LIFTING SNARES 17/10/14

A number of large and medium snares were lifted from within the Park, set by poachers to catch larger game like buffalo

SNARED BUSHBUCK 19/10/14

The team found an old carcass of a snared bushbuck. They also picked up a number of medium wire snares from the area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

POACHER ARRESTED 19/10/14

The team arrested an ivory poacher operating in Meru NP with poisoned arrows and camping equipment

LIFTING SNARES 21/10/14

The team found a collection of small snares within the Murondia area placed by poachers to catch small antelopes for bushmeat

LIFTING SNARES 23/10/14

Very large strong snares were lifted at the Ciabaringo area, set by poachers to catch large game like buffalos and zebra

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014

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

OCTOBER 2014

YATTA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2014