DSWT Anti-Poaching Units Report September 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

ANTI-POACHING UNITS MONTHLY REPORT

SEPTEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

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

759 32 27 18

With the exception of a few scattered rain showers signalling the approach of the rainy season, September has been predictably dry. This, of course, has led to a significant increase in poaching activity in the DSWT’s areas of operation across Tsavo East National Park (NP), Tsavo West NP, the Chyulu Hills NP, Kibwezi Forest as well as Meru NP in northern Kenya. The new DSWT ranger recruits have blended into their new teams well after graduating from KWS Manyani Training Academy in July this year, giving additional strength to the anti-poaching operations.

759 snares were discovered and removed during the month, 153 of which were confiscated from poachers before they had a chance to set them. This rise in snaring activity is expected during the driest months of the year, as there is little activity on bordering communities’ farms before the rains, which are due in early November.

The establishment of a new mobile anti-poaching team, which is currently based in Meru National Park, has proved to be a very positive development. The team, working in close cooperation with the Meru Park KWS management and rangers, has recovered 292 snares and captured three poachers this month.

A total of 32 arrests were made overall during the month including 9 bush meat poachers, 1 ivory poacher, 8 herders, 7 loggers, 5 charcoal burners, and 2 firewood collectors. Three elephant carcasses were investigated by DSWT/KWS ground teams; one was sighted by the DSWT helicopter on the banks of the Athi River, whilst a follow up by the ground team determined that it was a tusk-less elephant that had died of unknown causes. Of the other two carcasses, one was sighted by the Super Cub where the cause of death was unknown but most likely due to an arrow (tusks were recovered), whilst the third elephant carcass was found by a DSWT/KWS ground team and the tusks were recovered and delivered to KWS. It is likely that this elephant was a victim of a poisoned arrow.

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

Fourteen elephants were sighted from the air, darted from the helicopter and treated for injuries including fresh to old arrow wounds. Two DSWT anti-poaching teams assisted in these darting operations and are becoming quite efficient in assisting the mobile vet units in treatment of up to four elephants in a day which requires good coordination and teamwork.

One of the anti-poaching teams assisted in two rescues of orphaned baby elephants. One rescue was carried out with the assistance of Dr. Poghon and the orphan was transported to the Voi Stockades, whilst the second baby elephant was captured, but on close examination it was agreed that the calf was healthy and at the age where he could fend for himself, so was subsequently released to continue on his journey. One baby snared Kudu was also rescued during the month having been found abandoned.

MAP OF ALL UNIT’S PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

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

Snares recovered during patrol

Snares confiscated from poachers

Arrests

Fatalities

Escapes/Release s

Confiscations weapons

Confiscations tools/equipmen t

Confiscations Cooking items

Animal DNA

Destroyed

Human sign

Rescues

Small Medium Large Cable Rope Rope with pit Small Medium Large Cable Rope Bushmeat poacher Livestock Livestock minors (instances) Trespassing Ivory poacher Fishing Charcoal Honey harvesting Logging Growing/harvesting marijuana Woodcarving Growing/harvesting Mirraa Poachers Bushmeat poacher Livestock Livestock minors (instances) Trespassing Ivory poacher Fishing Charcoal Logging Woodcarving 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 Charcoal sacks Motorcycle Bicycle Jerry can Cooking utensils (instances) Food Bushmeat (kg) Dik Dik Carcass Kudu Spotted Hyena Carcass Buffalo Carcass Elephant Carcass waterbuck carcass Ivory (# tusks) Elephant tail Giraffe Tail Giraffe Carcass Rhino Leopard skin Bushbuck carcass Yellow-necked spurfowl Guinea fowl Shooting blind Manyatta 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 Mamba (Burra) (Kenze)

Nyati (Tiva)

Simba Sub(Ziwani) total Total

20

15

15

18

23

18

15

30

2 19

27

5

6 206 50

130

36 7

3

66 48

1

120 3

120 11 22

8 22

6

2 2

2

5

606

153

9 8 2 1

2 1 2 5

275 280 50 1

3

5

32

7

2

0

1

1

1

2

1

16

5

1

21

2

2

2

1 1

1 1 1

1

2

1

4

2

1 1 3 1 6

1 1 1

1

2

1

1

1

1

1 1 2 1

2

1

1

1

4

3 1 1 5

2

9 2 6 9 2 2

1

1

1

1

5

2

1 1

3 1 1 1

2

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED - September 2014 - All Teams

TOTAL ARRESTS MADE - September 2014 - All Teams

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014 BURRA TEAM PATROL AREA: Southern sector of Tsavo East NP & the Taita Ranches DAYS ON DUTY: 23

MAP OF MONTHLY PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS INJURED ELEPHANTS 1/09/14

The team helped the Tsavo mobile veterinary unit in treating several injured elephants with poisoned arrow wounds in the Satao area

ORPHANED ELAND 1/09/14

The team examined the healthiness of a baby eland at the Satao area and took it the DSWT Voi stockades for care

REPAIRING WINDMILL 3/09/14

The team helped engineers to fix the DSWT’s broken windmill which supplies water at the Aruba dam

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

CHARCOAL BURNING 4/09/14

The team found firewood ready for charcoal burning at Mbulia ranch, which had been cut down from the local area

LIFTING SNARES 6/08/14

On routine patrols the Burra team lifted small sized snares from the Tsavo river area

INJURED ELEPHANT 8/09/14

The Burra team helped the Tsavo Veterinary Unit to treat a bull elephant with an arrow wound

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

ELEPHANT CARCASS 13/09/14

The team found a carcass at Manga Hills and recovered both tusks handing them over to the KWS

LIFTING SNARES 16/09/14

The team lifted a number of small sized snares at Mbulia ranch which were set for small antelopes

CHARCOAL BURNING 19/09/14

The Burra team destroyed a charcoal kiln at Mbulia ranch

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

ELEPHANT CARCASS 23/09/14

A carcass was reported by the DSWT pilot at the Satao area with two tusks. The Burra team was sent to recover the ivory

INJURED ELEPHANT 23/09/14

The Burra team was called again to assist the Tsavo Vet Unit in treating an injured elephant with an arrow wound

ARUBA WINDMILL 31/09/14

The Burra team helped the engineers again in repairing the Aruba borehole and windmill system

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

BURRA UNIT MONTHLY DATA MAP

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014 CHYULU TEAM PATROL AREA: Chyulu National Park, Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 15

MAP OF MONTHLY PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS ILLEGAL LOGGING 22/09/14

A man was arrested logging inside the Chyulu Hills National Park and was arrested

GIRAFFE CARCASS 23/09/14

A young giraffe carcass was found by the team outside of the Chyulu Hills NP, cause of death is unknown.

LIFTING SNARES 23/09/14

The Chyulu team lifted a number of small snares from within the Park

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

ROAD CLEARING 24/09/14

The team helped to clear a road which was blocked by trees knocked down by elephants

ILLEGAL LOGGING 25/09/14

The team arrested a man illegally logging hardwood in the Park

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

CHYULU UNIT MONTHLY DATA MAP

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014 KENZE TEAM PATROL AREA: Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 18

MAP OF MONTHLY PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIFTING SNARES 4/09/14

The Kenze team lifted a number of small and medium wire snares from the Kibwezi Forest

ILLEGAL LOGGING 4/09/14

The Kenze team discovered a number of sites in the Forest which had signs of hardwood logging

BUSHMEAT POACHER 6/09/14

A bushmeat poacher and logger was arrested inside the Kibwezi Forest boundary with snares and kindling

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

LIFTING SNARES 9/09/14

Numerous small snares were lifted during routine patrols in the Forest reserve

BUSHMEAT POACHER 16/09/14

The team arrested a man setting snares in the reserve to catch small antelopes

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014 TIVA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP with a focus along the Tiva River DAYS ON DUTY: 15

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS ELEPHANT TRANSFER 17/09/14

The Nyati (Tiva) team helped the Ithumba Keepers in transporting an elephant orphan to the Nairobi Nursery

ELEPHANT TUSK 27/09/14

The team found a single elephant tusk in the bush. The ivory was handed over to KWS

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014 ZIWANI TEAM PATROL AREA: Central sector of Tsavo West NP south of the Tsavo River DAYS ON DUTY: 30

MAP OF MONTHLY PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS ELEPHANT CARCASS 3/09/14

The Ziwani team discovered an elephant carcass. Sadly the tusks had already been removed by poachers

LIFTING SNARES 6/09/14

The team lifted a number of wire snares targeting smaller game within the Oza Ranch area

BUSH FIRE 9/09/14

A fire was lit on one of the ranches by bordering communities, the fire luckily did not spread too far

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

LIFTING SNARES 12/09/2014

The team lifted snares near a sisal plantation at Mgeno area which were set to capture small antelope

POACHER’S CAVE 15/09/14

The team discovered a cave used by a poacher and found poisoned arrows and camping equipment

ELEPHANT TAILS 15/09/14

The team found 3 tails of a decimated elephant, used in traditional ceremonies and sold on the black market

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

RESCUED KUDU 18/09/2014

The team rescued a lesser kudu which had been abandoned on the ranches and took it to the DSWT Tsavo HQ for care

CHARCOAL BURNING 22/09/2014

A charcoal burner was arrested who later turned out also to be a bushmeat poacher known to the KWS

POACHING SNARE 23/09/2014

The team discovered a very crude device to snare and injure animals.

This was the sole of a shoe with nails laid on a wildlife path

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

ELEPHANT CARCASS 26/09/2014

SEPTEMBER 2014

An old elephant carcass was spotted at the Kichwa Tembo area – its tusks were missing

ZIWANI UNIT MONTHLY DATA MAP

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014 MTITO TEAM PATROL AREA: Tsavo Triangle, northern sector of Tsavo West NP & surrounding communities DAYS ON DUTY: 15

MAP OF MONTHLY PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS ELEPHANT CARCASS 16/09/14

The Mtito team found an elephant carcass along the Athi river. The elephant was tusk-less and naturally didn’t have any ivory

LIFTING SNARES 19/09/14

The team lifted a number of small snares in the Tsavo Triangle set for small game

CHARCOAL KILN 19/09/14

The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln – the offenders had fled the site

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

LIFTING SNARES 22/09/14

The Mtito team found a number of large cable snares laid for larger game like elephants and buffalo

ILLEGAL LOGGING 26/09/14

The team found the site of illegal logging activity in the Tsavo Triangle – the hardwood had already been stolen

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

MTITO UNIT MONTHLY DATA MAP

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014 ITHUMBA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP, northern boundary & Gazi DAYS ON DUTY: 20

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS ELEPHANT TREATMENT 12/09/14

The team worked with Dr Poghon of the Tsavo Vet Unit to treat an injured elephant in Ithumba which had a poisoned arrow wound

POACHERS’ HIDE 14/09/14

The Ndovu (Ithumba) unit found a recently used poachers hide with poisoned arrows found between Leslau dam and Shimo la Shetani

SHOOTING HIDE 17/09/14

The Ithumba team destroyed a shooting hideout which was spotted from the air by the DSWT aircraft during a routine patrol

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SEPTEMBER 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

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIFTING SNARES 3/09/2014

The new Yatta team is still operating in Meru National Park. They lifted several big snares at the Murondia area set for giraffes/elephants

SNARED GIRAFFE 7/09/14

The team found a giraffe carcass in the Kielu area, which had died from being snared

GIRAFFE CARCASS 8/09/14

A 2nd giraffe carcass was found again in the Kielu area, having died caught in a snare

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

LIFTING SNARES 8/09/14

A large snare set in the trees was removed by the team before it killed another giraffe.

BUSHMEAT POACHER 9/09/14

The team arrested a poacher in Meru NP who was setting a large number of heavy duty snares

POACHER ARRESTED 10/09/14

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

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014

SNARED HYAENA 14/09/14

The team found a decomposing hyaena carcass, which had died in a snare

SNARED WILDLIFE 14/09/14

The team also found a baboon and buffalo carcass which had both died in snares; the poacher not returning to remove the bushmeat

SNARES LIFTED 22/09/14

A large number of medium sized snares were lifted from Meru NP within the Kindani area having been set to capture wildlife

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SNARED BUSHBUCK 29/09/14

SEPTEMBER 2014

A snared bushbuck carcass was found in Meru NP having fallen victim to one of countless snares set in the area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

SEPTEMBER 2014