DSWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Report October 2017

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

ANTI-POACHING UNITS MONTHLY REPORT

OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017 MONTHLY SUMMARY: ALL UNITS TOTAL SNARES RECOVERED & COLLECTED: TOTAL ARRESTS MADE: TOTAL WEAPON/EQUIPMENT CONFISCATIONS: TOTAL ILLEGAL STRUCTURES DESTROYED:

397 38 116 57

October saw the true devastating effect of the drought, especially in the southern area of Tsavo East, which was struck the hardest, leaving little to no vegetation or browse for elephants and other vulnerable species left in the area. Whilst the strongest of the elephant population could move north to greener pastures, the weakest and those with young were forced to stay close to the remaining watering holes. Whilst there was adequate water access, with DSWT teams and water bowsers filling up dried up water points and maintaining boreholes and windmills, it was a lack of food which ultimately killed many elephants this month. During October the Burra Anti-Poaching Unit discovered over 20 elephant carcasses alone, which had succumbed to the drought, whilst the Aerial Unit and Vet Units discovered many more. The DSWT teams on the ground did everything in their power to lesson the struggle for wildlife in these drought-stricken areas, and there were a number of success stories, including the rescue of several baby elephants, which would have otherwise perished, as well as giving a second chance to a number of adult elephants with support from the Tsavo Vet Unit.

Bushfires also caused much devastation during the month, having been created by livestock herders within the Chyulu Hills and the Kibwezi area. These fires soon got out of control considering the parched state of the environment, so both the Chyulu and Kenze teams worked relentlessly throughout the month with groups of casual labourers employed by the DSWT from the local communities, beating back the fires and creating fire blocks. Thankfully efforts were successful, but much damage was still done.

The units were also active in anti-poaching operations throughout October, making 38 arrests in total including 3 arrests of ivory poachers by the Mtito team as well as 11 arrests of bushmeat poachers. 3 shooting blinds and 3 shooting platforms were also destroyed along with many livestock bomas, 13 charcoal kilns and a number of poachers’ camps and hides. The Yatta team was on annual leave this month whilst the Tiva and Ziwani teams were working part-month with the remaining teams carrying out full operations.

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MAP OF ALL UNIT’S PATROL ROUTES

MAP OF ALL UNIT’S ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

DAILY SITUATION REPORT MONTHLY SUMMARY – OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED – OCTOBER 2017- All Teams

TOTAL ARRESTS MADE – OCTOBER 2017 - All Teams

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OCTOBER 2017

INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017 ZIWANI TEAM PATROL AREA: Central sector of Tsavo West NP south of the Tsavo River DAYS ON DUTY: 14

SECURITY & INCIDENTS SHOOTING PLATFORM 23/10/17

The Ziwani Team members destroy a fresh shooting platform near Manyani

ILLEGAL GRAZING 24/10/17

Illegal grazing at Ziwani area. The team pushed the livestock back out of the park and a number of herders were apprehended

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

POACHERS CAMP 25/10/17

Poachers camp was sighted and destroyed at Oza ranch

BUSHMEAT POACHER 26/10/17

The team arrested a bushmeat poacher at kishushe ranch with meat and lots of lamping and poaching equipment

ILLEGAL LOGGING 28/10/17

Logging activities were uncovered of wood for charcoal burning at kishushe ranch

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OCTOBER 2017

ZIWANI UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017 TIVA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP with a focus along the Tiva River DAYS ON DUTY: 13

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIFTING SNARES 24/10/17

The Tiva team found a number of snares and a bushmeat carcass skin during daily patrols

IVORY POACHER 27/10/17

The team ambushed and arrested an ivory poacher in his camp in possession of a bow and poisoned arrows

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LOGGING 27/10/17

OCTOBER 2017

Extensive logging activity was found in the Umbi area

TIVA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017 BURRA TEAM PATROL AREA: Southern sector of Tsavo East NP & the Taita Ranches DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS ELEPHANT CARCASS 2/10/17

A recent elephant carcass sighted by the pilot along the Mbololo river, which died from the drought. The ivory was taken for safe keeping

ELEPHANT CARCASS 2/10/17

A juvenile elephant carcass sighted by the team near Ndololo camp. Its ivory was removed. Again this elephant perished during the drought

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

ELEPHANT CARCASS 4/10/17

An old elephant carcass found at Mudanda area. recovered

The tusks were

ELEPHANT CARCASS 4/10/17

A poached elephant at Yatta area hidden with bushes by poachers. the tusks had already been taken

ELEPHANT CARCASS 6/10/17

An elephant carcass sighted by pilot at Irima area. It is believed to have died because of the drought. It’s ivory was recovered

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

ELEPHANT CARCASS 8/10/17

An elephant carcass sighted by the team at Kanderi area. This elephant died during the drought. It’s tusks were removed for safekeeping

ELEPHANT RESCUE 8/10/17

A young calf with her mother was rescued by the team rescued as it had injuries to its left front leg. The calf was flown to the Nairobi Nursery

ELEPHANT RESCUE 8/10/17

Another baby elephant was found by the team; it had collapsed at Aruba waterhole, due to a lack of food and vegetation during the drought.

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ELEPHANT TREATMENT 8/10/17

OCTOBER 2017

An adult elephant, which had collapsed due to drought at Aruba waterhole was attended to by the Tsavo Vet Unit

==== ELEPHANT CARCASS 8/10/17

Another fresh young elephant carcass found at Aruba area. Another victim of the drought

ELEPHANT CARCASS 8/10/17

A subadult elephant carcass found at Aruba area. removed for safe keeping

The tusks were

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OCTOBER 2017

LIFTING SNARES 9/10/17

A team member holding the snares lifted at Taita hills sanctuary

LIFTING SNARES 10/10/17

Team members holding snares lifted during the day at Mbulia community ranch. A dikdik was also rescued from a snare

ELEPHANT CARCASS 13/10/17

An elephant carcass sighted by the pilot at Aruba area. Tusks were removed

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

ELEPHANT CARCASS 13/10/17

An elephant carcass sighted at a waterhole near Maungu. Another drought victim. Tusks were removed.

ELEPHANT CARCASS 16/10/17

An elephant carcass found at Aruba area. Another drought victim. Tusks were removed and handed to KWS

ELEPHANT CARCASS 16/10/17

An elephant carcass found at Aruba area. Another drought victim. Tusks were removed and handed to KWS

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OCTOBER 2017

CHARCOAL BURNING 22/10/17

Charcoal burning and logging at Galana river area

BUSHMEAT POACHERS 24/10/17

Arrested bushmeat poachers at Galana conservancy

ELEPHANT CARCASS 24/10/17

A fresh elephant carcass sighted at Aruba area with both tusks intact and retrieved

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OCTOBER 2017

ELEPHANT CARCASS 25/10/17

A fresh elephant carcass sighted at Aruba area with both tusks intact and retrieved

ELEPHANT RESCUE 27/10/17

A rescued young elephant ready to be taken to voi stockades

ELEPHANT CARCASS 27/10/17

An elephant carcass sighted by the pilot at Irima area, tusks intact and retrieved

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

ELEPHANT CARCASS 30/10/17

An elephant carcass sighted at Ndololo area with both tusks intact and retrieved

ELEPHANT CARCASS 30/10/17

A fresh elephant carcass sighted at Kanderi waterhole with both tusks intact and retrieved

ELEPHANT CARCASS 30/10/17

An elephant carcass sighted at Kanderi area with both tusks intact and retrieved

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

ELEPHANT CARCASS 30/10/17

An elephant carcass sighted at Kanderi area with both tusks intact and retrieved

ELEPHANT CARCASS 30/10/17

A juvenile elephant carcass sighted at Kanderi area with both tusks intact and retrieved

ELEPHANT CARCASS 30/10/17

A fresh elephant carcass at Aruba area with both tusks intact and retrieved

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

BURRA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017 MERU TEAM (Meru National Park) PATROL AREA: This is a mobile team operating in the Meru Conservation Area and National Park DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS

LIVESTOCK INTRUSION 2/10/17

The Meru team removed goats and livestock from the park

SHOOTING PLATFORM 3/10/17

A shooting platform was destroyed in the Kiolu area

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LIFTING SNARES 7/10/17

Lifting big snares at Ura downstream

LIFTING SNARES 19/10/17

Lifting medium and large snares at Kibangua area

LIFTING SNARES 22/10/17

Lifting big snares at Punguru area

OCTOBER 2017

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

LIFTING SNARES 30/10/17

OCTOBER 2017

Lifting medium snares at Ciabaringo area

MERU UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017 MOBILE TEAM PATROL AREA: This team is mobile and works where it is needed the most DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIFTING SNARES 7/10/17

Team lifted a number of snares from the Machokombo area

ILLEGAL LOGGING 8/10/17

Illegal Logging was sighted at the Machokombo area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

POACHERS CAMP 12/10/17

Old poachers camp sighted at Yatta area near a small water point

SHOOTING PLATFORM 17/10/17

Shooting platform sighted at Tundani area and destroyed

SHOOTING BLINDS 18/10/17

Three shooting blinds sighted at Tundani area were destroyed

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

MOBILE UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017 ITHUMBA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP, northern boundary & Gazi DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS POACHERS CAMP 8/10/17

A bushmeat poacher was arrested at Kimweli area with bush meat during a night ambush

FOREST FIRE 15/10/17

The team fought a fire at the Chyulu area probably set by livestock herders

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

LIFTING SNARES 17/10/17

Team members lifting snares from the Powerline area

LOGGING ACTIVITIES 20/10/17

Illegal logs confiscated by the team before they could be transported out of the park

POACHER ARRESTED 27/10/17

A poacher was arrested at Umbi area in possession of a bow and poisoned arrows

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

ITHUMBA UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017 MTITO TEAM PATROL AREA: Tsavo Triangle, northern sector of Tsavo West NP & surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS POACHERS ARRESTED 5/10/17

The team arrested two bushmeat poachers at Mangelete

BUSHMEAT POACHER 12/10/17

The Mtito team arrested a bushmeat poacher at Miangeni with fresh meat

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

IVORY POACHERS 12/10/17

Ivory poachers arrested at Makutano junction with tusks during a nighttime raid

CHARCOAL BURNING 14/10/17

Illegal Charcoal burning at Triangle area

BUSH FIRE 15/10/17

Extinguishing a bush fire at the Kibwezi forest

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ELEPHANT CARCASS 28/10/17

Elephant carcass at the Triangle

ELEPHANT RESCUE 30/10/17

The team helped with an elephant rescue at the Triangle

OCTOBER 2017

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

MTITO UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017 CHYULU TEAM PATROL AREA: Chyulu National Park, Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities D DAYS ON DUTY: 31

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIVESTOCK HERDERS 3/10/17

The team arrested a number of livestock herders in the park

BUSH FIRE 5/10/17

Firefighting with other teams and casual workers in the Kithasyo area.

These fires went on for a number of days

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

CANNABIS PLANTATION 9/10/17

The team found and destroyed a cannabis plantation in the park

ARRESTED HERDERS 11/10/17

The team arrested a number of livestock herders and pushed livestock out of the park

FIREFIGHTING 15/10/17

The team worked with large crews of firefighters to put out bush fires in the Chyulus

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SANDALWOOD 25/10/17

Arrested sandalwood harvesters at Mukameni

CHARCOAL BURNING 28/10/17

The team found charcoal burning in the Utu area

OCTOBER 2017

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

CHYULU UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

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OCTOBER 2017

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OCTOBER 2017

AUGUST 2017 KENZE TEAM PATROL AREA: Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 30

SECURITY & INCIDENTS

FIREFIGHTING 6/10/17

The team had a firefighting day in the Kenzili area, putting out fires started by livestock herders

CHARCOAL BURNING 10/10/17

The team arrested charcoal burners in the Kiboko area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

CHARCOAL BURNING 15/10/17

Charcoal bags found in the Utu area after an aerial recce

FIREFIGHTING 14/10/17

Fighting wild fires in Chyulu Hills, which had been raging for days

LIFTING SNARES 24/10/17

De-snaring in progress and the snares lifted in the Kiboko area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017

KENZE UNIT MONTHLY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

OCTOBER 2017