SWT Annual Newsletter 2019

Sheldrick

WILDLIFE TRUST

Newsletter - 2019

Table of Contents Overview by Angela Sheldrick

4-5

Orphans’ Project

Nairobi Nursery

Kaluku Nursery for Neonates 12 - 13

2019 New Arrivals & their Rescue Stories 14 - 15

Voi Unit 16 - 21

Ithumba Unit 22 - 27

Umani Springs Unit 28 - 33

6 -11

The Orphaned Rhinos & Other Orphans 34 - 37 Mobile Veterinary Units & Sky Vets 38 - 39 Veterinary Notes from the Field by Dr. Jeremiah Poghon 40 - 41 De-Snaring & Anti-Poaching Teams 42 - 45 Canine Unit 46 - 47 Mau Forest De-Snaring Teams 48 - 49 Aerial Surveillance 50 - 52 Field Notes by SWT Pilot Captain Andy Payne

53

Saving Habitats 56 - 69 Support of our KWS partners 70 - 73 Meru National Park Rhino Sanctuary 74 - 75 Community Outreach 76 - 79 Eco Lodges & Tourism 80 - 83 Africa’s Elephants in 2019 86 - 88 Special Thanks 89 - 90

Overview for 2019

BY ANGELA SHELDRICK

“ Of paramount importance is securing wild spaces, as mankind’s footprint continues to expand and, in its wake, leaves key ecosystems hanging in the balance. ” I look back on 2019 with great satisfaction. Kenya has been embraced by global travelers as a destination of choice, and robust tourism coupled with truly exceptional rains proved to be just the balm the country needed; for when nature blesses us with bountiful rains, everyone — human and wildlife alike — thrives. Never has Kenya looked more beautiful, and because of such favorable conditions, poaching was greatly reduced this year. Human-wildlife conflict remains a worrying and growing threat, but again the rains helped alleviate the pressure. We also rescued relatively few orphans in 2019, which is always a good barometer of things (at the height of Kenya’s poaching epidemic, and during the 2017 drought we were rescuing three times the number of orphaned elephants as we are now).

While this year certainly had its challenges, it was more marked by celebration. We were particularly delighted to meet six new wild-born babies, the offspring of our orphans who have been successfully reintegrated into Tsavo’s elephant populations. Solio, an orphaned rhino who we rescued a decade ago and is now living wild in Nairobi National Park, also became a first-time mum in 2019. There was also the all-important victory for elephants when CITES ruled in favour of holding the Ivory ban in place, despite facing stiff opposition from the Southern African countries. We are proud to say that Kenya’s delegation were some of the most fervent champions of this decision, which marks a major triumph for conservation.

Of paramount importance is securing wild spaces, as mankind’s footprint continues to expand and, in its wake, leaves key ecosystems hanging in the balance. Some very interesting opportunities came our way in this regard, increasing the land protected under our Saving Habitats program. Through public-private partnerships, and arrangements with communities, we are able to lease, manage, and protect these precious wildernesses before they are lost forever to human encroachment. You can read about these partnerships in more detail throughout the pages of our Newsletter.

The Kenya Wildlife Service is one of our most important partners and has been at the forefront of our support.

We bolster their conservation efforts within the Tsavo Conservation Area, but further afield too, offering increased support in the form of donated vehicles, infrastructure, veterinary teams, and anti-poaching units across Amboseli, Meru, the Mara, Mount Kenya, and the Aberdares.

Most importantly, we have been blessed with great interest in our work from so many generous people across the globe. Not just through their passion for the orphaned elephants, but also understanding the importance of the big picture and all aspects of our field work. Our conservation programs truly work hand-in-hand, ensuring that our orphans and their wild kin are safe, and that all creatures have a protected place to call home for generations to come.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters around the world, who embrace all that we do and back it so wholeheartedly. I would also like to thank the men and women who make up our incredible SWT team. Their tireless efforts, combined with your most appreciated support, enables us to make that all-important ‘difference’ each and every day.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

4

The Orphans’ Project NAIROBI NURSERY - ESTABLISHED 1977 260 elephants successfully raised 101 orphans dependant between SWT Units 164 orphans living wild 35 wild born babies This year, the wet season arrived in April before receding in May. June braced itself for a harsh dry season, which persisted for far too long, but thankfully the country was blessed with unusually early rains in October. These magically revived the parched land, transforming it into a lush haven. This abundance of rain and vegetation is one of the factors behind the relatively low number of orphaned elephants we rescued this year. Overall, eight calves were rescued, bringing the total tally of elephants at our Nairobi Nursery to sixteen. Each one comes to us with a different story, yet despite the trauma of being separated from their families, they have received the very best chance at life once again with a wild future awaiting them.

While we are happy to report a decline in the poaching of elephants in Kenya, there remains the looming threat of the ever-expanding human footprint, which shrinks the land available to elephants and all wildlife. Almost all of the eight calves that came into our care this year were orphaned as a result of human-wildlife conflict (HWC); victims of the elephant species’ struggle to find natural resources and space in our shrinking wild world. It is for this reason that the Trust is focusing its efforts on conflict mitigation strategies and resolutions this year.

The first of these new rescues landed in our laps very early, on just the 2nd January. The Kenya Wildlife Service alerted us about a calf who was only ten months old. “Larro,” as we came to call her, had obviously been without her mother for several weeks, given her poor body condition and lack of strength. Although we can never be sure what happened to her mother, that particular area of the greater Mara ecosystem is a hotbed for human-wildlife conflict: between August and December 2018, the KWS/SWT-funded Mara Veterinary Unit treated 28 injured elephants — all of whom had been arrowed or speared as a result of HWC. Larro has grown into a much-adored member of the Nursery herd and remains the youngest female in Nairobi. Because she is so doted upon by the older girls, she has developed a rather cocky personality, confident in the knowledge she has her protectors by her side at all times. Indeed, little Larro has even had a good influence on some of her older friends, most notably Kiasa; for months, the Keepers referred to Kiasa as ‘Kichwa ngumu’ – their little headache – but Larro has well and truly converted her into a loving and caring girl, always quick to rush to Kiasa’s side in times of need.

Nabulu, Kiombo, and Ziwadi were our next additions, all orphans rescued from the Masai Mara between February and April. The fact they were rescued so close together might be the reason why Kiombo took such an immediate and persistent shine to Nabulu, devotedly following her everywhere. At first, she seemed to take little notice of him, but after a few months of Kiombo’s dogged persistence, Nabulu developed a particular fondness for little Kiombo, and now they are often spotted out together in the forest. Our little Ziwadi has been plagued by epileptic seizures, which have thankfully decreased in frequency over the few months she has been with us. However, she still keeps to herself and wanders off from the herd from time to time, leaving us wondering what befell her and her family. She has never been able to suckle well on a bottle and makes a terrible mess when feeding, and she always prefers to drink from the water trough directly with her mouth. She seems to understand that being around boisterous activity may bring on her little seizures, so she keeps a wide berth from the rowdier members of her new family, especially the bulls like Dololo and Mukkoka.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

6

In May and June, we bade farewell to some of the Nursery’s dear elder babies, as they embarked on the next stage of their journey at our Reintegration Units in Tsavo East. Following the rains of April and May, this window of time is favored for graduations, cushioning our orphans’ landing in Tsavo as they transition from the more lush and temperate conditions in Nairobi. Tagwa, Emoli, and Sagala moved to the Voi Unit while Ambo, sweet-natured Jotto, Kuishi, Malima, and Mapia were transferred to Ithumba. All but Tagwa have settled down extremely well into their new environments, welcomed by the dependent babies there, many of whom are already familiar faces from the time they overlapped at the Nursery. Mbegu was particularly delighted to have Emoli under her wing again in Voi and rarely lets the little bull out of her sight.

For Tagwa, however, the move to Voi was short-lived.

Shortly after her graduation, she was plagued by a stubborn right tusk that was growing the wrong way.

This caused painful swelling and proved agonizing for her, particularly during the prolonged dry season in the southern section of Tsavo. So, in August, we brought her back to the Nursery to recuperate. As the eldest member of the herd, she quickly reassumed the position of Nursery matriarch. Sweet-natured Tamiyoi, who had filled Tagwa’s shoes for the three months she was gone, happily relinquished the role of matriarch.

Roho was the last orphan to be rescued this year, in October, and is the smallest member of the Nursery herd. He was only eight months old when he was found guarding his mother’s lifeless body in Tsavo West. His rescue was traumatic; we can only imagine how scared he must have been to witness his mother’s demise — we are not sure what caused her death, but we suspect it was poaching-related — and then be taken from her side and transported by helicopter with unfamiliar humans.

However, he is of stout personality and has settled down extremely well at the Nursery. He immediately latched on to all the other orphans, thanks in no small part to the attentions of the older females, who are only too willing to smother him in love. However, he remains a little nervous of humans. It was his plucky personality that earned him the name Roho, which means “spirited” in Swahili.

There is a lovely dynamic among the Nursery herd, and although there are small spats and daily dramas, everyone has great affection for one another. Tagwa has grown very Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

fond of little Larro since her return, and she gives the calf special attention and makes sure that none of the young bulls disturb her. She also helpfully pulls down the higher green branches for all of the youngsters, like Larro and Roho, who are still too small to reach them. Tamiyoi, who was the matriarch before Tagwa’s return, has the utmost respect for her and helps her in her matriarchal duties. Indeed, Tamiyoi is deeply nurturing towards all members of the Nursery herd and never has a particular favourite, which makes her the perfect mini matriarch.

The other older females like Nabulu, Enkesha, Maisha, and Kiasa are also helpful ‘nannies,’ and they enjoy looking after the youngsters and dishing out discipline where necessary.

While our females are the perfect doting mothers, the little males in the Nursery certainly live up to the bullish personalities defined by their gender. When gentlenatured Jotto left the Nursery in June, Dololo seemed to appoint himself the big-dog of the Nursery and is a bit of a bully towards the younger members of the herd.

Mukkoka is the greediest and always tries to get his milk before anyone else, yelling as he runs should any of the others even consider trying to overtake him. Maktao, meanwhile, is our little playground baby, always wanting to initiate wrestling and pushing games. He can be quite distracting to those around him, like Musiara, who prefers to just quietly browse!

Of course, the oldest bull in the Nursery by a whole year is Luggard, our maimed calf whose back leg was shattered by a bullet. Luggard used to be a quiet little soul, but now he is starting to assert himself and doesn’t pay heed to the older girls anymore. It was Luggard’s zest for life that saw him through those painful early years as he grappled with his leg injury, and it is now what keeps him going strong. He is eager to spend as much time as possible amongst the rest of the Nursery herd, enjoying walking out to the forest with them and trying to keep the same pace as everyone. He has learned to hold his bottle on his own and is always happy to grab it from the Keepers. As impressive as this newfound skill is, it has made him quite naughty during milk feeds, trying to grab more milk from the other orphans and directly from the wheelbarrow.

When we rescued her two years ago, a snare had nearly severed Enkesha’s trunk. It has now healed as well as it can, with just a small hole on one side that will not close now the scar tissue has formed, but she has full use of her trunk and can drink without any issues. Because we 10

made the decision not to amputate, she can also still use the end of her trunk, which will be of great use to her particularly when she transitions to the wild. After all, the all-important ‘fingers’ at the end of an African elephant’s trunk are vital in the dry season for picking off straggling leaves, berries, and branches, and just generally make life much easier to cope with. Enkesha is unique from most of the other females in that she prefers to spend time on her own, wandering away from the herd and rarely engaging with the others in games.

When raising baby elephants, one has to understand and accept the emotional roller coaster involved. Dame Daphne used to say that elephants were the hardest babies to raise, and that nature made them that way. Just as you cross one hurdle with one youngster, something terrible can happen to remind you just how incredibly sensitive these extraordinary animals are. We were devastated on the 19th August to lose dear Dupotto, after such a long uphill battle with her illness. In the five years that she was in our care, she had become a most treasured member of our orphan herd, and her loss was particularly hard to bear. Over many years of raising wild animals and often fighting trauma, wounds, illnesses, and physical and emotional complexities, we have experienced our fair share of loss, but it does not make it any easier. We have, however, learned to pick ourselves up and concentrate on all the other little dependants in our care that so still desperately need our love and attention.

11

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

KALUKU NURSERY FOR NEONATES Â It was in 2018, when Nairobi was receiving unprecedented rains, that we were forced to raise the neonate baby elephants that came into our care at our Kaluku Field Headquarters in Tsavo. This decision was borne out of necessity; they simply would not have survived otherwise, as the weather in Nairobi was so extreme. The orphan who began it all was a victim of the floods; little Lemeki, as we named her, was washed down the Mara river when it flooded and was extracted from its swirling waters by an intrepid member of the Mara Elephant Project. This waterlogged baby arrived at Kaluku when she was just weeks old, and we were forced to quickly adapt in order to accommodate her and the others who soon came in her wake. We presently have seven baby elephants who are being raised there, ranging from two years old to just weeks old. The warmer weather, ideal habitat, and close oversight makes Kaluku an ideal home for these very vulnerable orphans, but as it is not open to the general public, they are not on our fostering program. In the fullness of time, they too will move to one of our three Reintegration Units, where they will continue their journey and eventually assimilate into the wild herds of Tsavo, as so many have before them.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

12

13

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

2019 RESCUE STORIES Larro | Female | 2nd January, 2019 Reason for rescue: Human-Wildlife Conflict Local community members reported a lone elephant calf to KWS, who confirmed that she was an orphan. She was desperately thin and dehydrated, and due to her diminutive size and weakened state, her rescue was an easy one. Larro was flown to the Nairobi Nursery and placed in a stable next to Enkesha, who was very welcoming to the new arrival. She quickly settled and is extremely trusting of her Keepers, who she adores.

Nabulu | Female | 30th January, 2019 Reason for rescue: She was found abandoned Nabulu was monitored for two weeks, but despite many elephant herds passing through the area, she remained alone. Given her rapidly deteriorating condition, authorities decided she needed to be rescued. She was extremely feisty and it took a lot of men to capture her. She was initially very restless at the Nursery and her behaviour was unpredictable, but the other orphans eventually helped her calm down. Her condition improved and she began to trust the Keepers and other orphans, at last embracing her new life.

Bondeni | Male | 4th February, 2019 Reason for rescue: Human-Wildlife Conflict Bondeni was rescued at the beginning of the year. He was found, just days old, on community lands adjacent to the Kibwezi Forest in the Chyulu Hills. We can only assume he was abandoned due to human-wildlife conflict; it is likely that his mother found herself trapped on community lands and was disturbed shortly after giving birth to him. Thankfully, the villagers who found him — tiny, alone, and desperate for company — were sympathetic to his plight and quickly reported his situation to the KWS, who in turn alerted us so we could organise a rescue.

Kiombo | Male | 17th March, 2019 Reason for rescue: Mother died of natural causes Narok County Rangers monitored Kiombo for days, but his family couldn’t be found. The carcass of a lactating female elephant, quite possibly his mother, was discovered nearby.

Given the state of his sunken cheekbones and hollow forehead, Kiombo must have been alone for a while. He was clearly grateful to be rescued as he was very tame from the outset.

In the evenings, he still rushes to his stockade at high speed, anxious for his milk bottle.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

14

Ziwadi | Female | 7th April, 2019 Reason for rescue: Found abandoned Ziwadi was seen alone in community lands and desperate for company, following herdsmen and any vehicle that came close. Fearful of her presence, the community shot at her with arrows. It was clear that she would soon fall victim to her circumstances, so we quickly initiated a rescue. Upon her arrival at the Nursery, Ziwadi was visibly stressed and was riddled with parasites. She also had a strange condition that presented as temporary blindness and seizures, but thankfully she has improved greatly, both physically and psychologically.Â

Pika Pika | Female | 5th September, 2019 Reason for rescue: Suspected poaching victim A young calf was seen in the company of five adult bull elephants. Though her older friends could offer protection, no lactating females were nearby and she was still too young to survive without milk, so the KWS requested a rescue. The SWT helicopter was able to carefully separate little Pika Pika from the bulls, so she could be safely rescued. Given her age and proximity to our Voi Reintegration Unit, we decided to bypass the Nursery stage and bring her there directly. She was immediately embraced by the older girls as the new baby of the group.

Vaarti | Male | 13th September, 2019 Reason for rescue: Poaching victim A wild female elephant arrived at our Ithumba stockades with a tiny calf in tow, who was extremely thin and in dire need of milk. It was apparent that the older elephant was not the baby’s mother at approximately nine years old, she was still a juvenile herself. Instead, it was as if she was delivering the orphan into the hands of help. The desperate baby tried to suckle on the big bulls at the water trough, and the dependent orphans. After confirmation from the KWS that he was indeed an orphan, the calf was rescued. The carcass of a poached lactating female was found on the Tiva River.

Roho | Male | 16th October, 2019 Reason for rescue: Suspected poaching victim Roho was seen during an aerial patrol, huddled by the body of his deceased mother. A rescue team was mobilised, and they persevered across jagged lava rock and through thick bush to reach him. However, the helicopter was unable to land in the difficult terrain, and Roho had to be carried all the way down the steep hill. He arrived at the Nursery still full of fight and spirit, and although we will never know what fate befell his mother, he has recovered well from the trauma of losing her and readily accepted his new surrogate family.

15

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

THE VOI UNIT - ESTABLISHED IN 1948 SOUTHERN AREA TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK 29 milk dependant elephants 62 orphans living wild January was a month of socialising for our Voi dependent orphans. Emily’s ex-orphan herd arrived at the beginning of the month, and we were lucky to have their company frequently throughout the early part of the year. Emily, who is now a mum two times over, presides over an ever expanding group of ex-orphans and their wild-born babies: there are her own offspring, Emma and Eve, plus Edie and her babies Eden and Ella, Sweet Sally and her baby Safi, Icholta and her baby Inca, and then Lesanju, Lempaute, Rombo, and Mweya.

Ndara, baby Neptune, Wassesa, Lempaute, Rombo, and Taveta arrived sporadically as a separate herd to visit their Voi family. We noticed early in the year that 18 year old ex-orphan Mweya was heavily pregnant, but it was not until November that she introduced us to her firstborn, a little girl we named Mwitu, who must have been born around August. At the same time, we met Edie’s third calf, a little boy called Eco, who joins older sisters Ella and Eden.

All the fresh water found around the Voi stockades was perhaps one reason Emily’s herd chose to stick close to home early in the year, but this was to be the only time we would see them during 2019. When the dry season set in, they chose to make their annual pilgrimage to the dry ranch lands adjacent to the Park, where they can safely see through the more difficult months. It was only once we received significant rainfall in October that Edie and Mweya chose to journey back to the Voi stockades, where they celebrated their newborns with their extended elephant and human family. We always feel very privileged when ex-orphans choose to share these milestone moments with us.

Further happy news arrived earlier in the year when, on the 8th February, nine year old Mbirikani reappeared at our stockades after nearly a year’s absence. The last we saw her, she and Ajali had walked off with a wild elephant herd.

She has remained an extended member of the Voi herd, picking and choosing when she spends her days browsing with the orphans. However, she certainly enjoys feeling part of a family, even if she does sleep outside the stockades at night.

Once seven year old Ndoria started to get itchy feet as well, also wishing to spend her nights away from the stockades, it made sense for her to team up with Mbirikani.

The Voi herd grew by several members when Tagwa, Emoli, and Sagala graduated there from the Nairobi Nursery in June. This turned out to be a short relocation for Tagwa; shortly after her arrival, her tusk started growing through in the wrong place, which was clearly very painful. Because of this, she was struggling to adapt to the drier conditions in Voi and losing condition, so we moved her back to the Nairobi Nursery where she could be monitored more closely.

Mbegu has kept her mini herd together as a tight-knit group consisting of Godoma, Ngilai, Ndotto, Lasayen, and Murit, and they were only too happy to welcome their friends from the Nursery. Emoli and Sagala were immediately swept into Mbegu’s coterie, and when Pika Pika was rescued in September, Mbegu was quick to lay claim to the little girl. Although it’s unclear why Pika Pika was orphaned, we believe human-wildlife conflict was the culprit. This year presented yet another challenging dry season for wildlife, causing many elephants to leave the boundaries of Tsavo National Park in search of food. As a result, human-wildlife conflict surged in the area, leaving many calves abandoned in the process.

Although Kenia and Kihari’s older herd is no longer milk-dependent, they still enjoy the security offered by the larger herd and the stockades at night. They also love babies, and while Mbegu keeps a tight rein on “her” younger orphans, Kenia and Kihari managed to adopt little Tahri and Araba as their own. In November, the Keepers made the decision to let 12 year old Kenia, along with Ndii, Kihari, and Panda, sleep outside the stockades. This allowed them to dip 17

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

their toes into independent living, spending their nights browsing around the compound, but they always returned in the morning to round up their charges. They are still very fond of the younger members of the Voi herd and wish to remain a part of the group. Ishaq-B is very keen to woo Mbegu’s herd and have them as her very own group of babies, but Mbegu remains cautious of her intentions and keeps her at arm’s length.

When ex-orphans Mweya and Edie arrived with their newborns in November, they were eager to recruit some new nannies to help them with the babies. They found very willing helpers in the form of bulls Bada and Nguvu, and then a few days later, they also managed to recruit Naipoki, Panda, Lentili, and Mbirikani. Everyone was very enthusiastic about the opportunity to become nannies and took their duties very seriously. By the end of the month, Nguvu and Naipoki were even taking it upon themselves to prevent Eco and Mwitu from interacting with playmates who they didn’t deem suitable. Only time will tell if these five orphans will choose to stay with Edie and Mweya indefinitely, but regardless, it is a huge step for them to leave the compound and spend their nights out in the Park. We are very happy to see them slowly taking the steps towards independence.

Some, however, were none too pleased with these changes. After losing five of their herd to Mweya and Edie, Kenia and Ndii were not so happy to socialise with them anymore. Whenever the ex-orphans approached, Kenia and Ndii would briskly walk ‘their’ herd off in the opposite direction, clearly worried that the older girls would usurp their leadership roles and snatch up more of their friends!

Mweya & Edie’s wild born babies Mwitu & Eco

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

18

THE ITHUMBA UNIT - ESTABLISHED IN 2004 NORTHERN AREA TSAVO EAST NATIONAL PARK 35 milk dependant elephants 67 orphans living wild

We had quite a baby boom at our Ithumba Reintegration Unit this year, as three of our ex-orphans gave birth this year. For us, these wild-born babies are the most exciting news. Having raised their mothers from infancy, each one feels like a grandchild of our own and is the epitome of success of our Orphans’ Project. In December 2019, Christmas came early for us when 15 year old Sidai arrived at our Ithumba stockades with a tiny little girl in tow, who we named Sita. By her side were her beloved friends — and now nannies — Naserian, Lenana, Galana and her calf Gawa, and Nasalot with her little rascal baby Nusu. This was a moment we had been waiting for with great anticipation, as we knew that Sidai was expecting.

The fact that she chose to share this joy with us, as so many other wild-living orphans do, is a most moving tribute, and we fully believe it to be her way of showing how appreciative she is for the kindness and love that saved her life.

The last quarter of the year was when all our baby meet -and-greets occurred. On the 17th November, Wendi strolled up to the mud bath with her newborn baby in tow, who we have named Wema. Wendi was very eager to show off her tiny bundle of joy to Ithumba Head Keeper Benjamin and the rest of her SWT family, parading her around and even permitting some of the dependent orphans to interact with her. Wiva played the perfect older sister, following her around like a little shadow, whilst Wendi’s dear friend Naserian has clearly appointed herself the nanny in charge.

Just ahead of Wendi’s news, fourteen year old Loijuk had some of her own to share: As dawn broke on 1st September, she escorted her newborn to the Ithumba stockades. We named this perfect little girl Lili, which is most fitting given that Loijuk was named after a swamp close to where she was rescued during a drought. With favorable rains, this same place is transformed into a veritable paradise, carpeted with colorful water lilies.

Loijuk is a first time mum, but she trusts her human family implicitly, and was happy to share Lili with her Keepers and orphan friends. The number of wild babies Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

born to our ex Ithumba orphans is ever-growing; with the births of Sita, Wema, and Lili, we are up to eleven!

We sometimes wonder if poor Nasalot ever knew she was going to give birth to such a rascal in the form of little Nusu. He is definitely a handful and such a character.

Naseku, one of the dependent orphans at Ithumba, absolutely loves playing with the babies and when Nusu challenges her to a pushing game, she knows to handle him softly. Spunky Esampu, on the other hand, has not changed since her Nursery days and is all too happy to fight back. One day, she had quite a quarrel with Nusu when he pushed her over for no reason at all. Esampu turned to retaliate, but when she saw Nusu’s mum Nasalot approaching, she made the very prudent choice to scarper and dissolved into the rest of the herd.

The dry season was particularly hot this year, which meant that Yatta’s ex-orphan herd stuck around the stockade area. This was a wise decision, as they know that they will always have water points topped up by the Trust’s water bowsers, along with extra lucerne grass supplements for the lactating mothers. Although the Keepers mainly supply these supplements for the dependent orphans, they always ensure they have extra in case the ex-orphans need more rations.

Benjamin, the Head Keeper at Ithumba, refers to Kithaka and his merry band of bulls as the “rebel herd.”

He, Barsilinga, Garzi, Lemoyian, and, from time to time, Turkwel are starting to assert their independence — and they want everyone to know it! Although they still return to the stockades at night, they sometimes choose to browse separately to the dependent orphans during the day. Sometimes, they join up with Olare’s ex-orphan herd, who are all back together now that Lualeni’s baby Lulu is getting older and doesn’t need as many nannies anymore. Chemi Chemi is also a part of Olare’s herd, but the Keepers have dubbed him the “Lone Ranger,” as he prefers to walk alone much of the time. He joined up with Bomani a few times this year, while Orwa moved away from Narok and Bomani for a while. All in all, this younger ex-orphan group is doing very well as they embark on their wild lives.

22

The boys in the “rebel herd” are seven and eight years old now, which is around the age our orphans really start to explore their independence, but the protection offered by the herd and their Keepers keeps them close to home. It is wise that they are taking things slow, particularly in light of the aggressive pride of lions that terrorised our Ithumba orphans last year. They made periodic appearances this year, and it was when poor Karisa chose to stay out one night in November that the same lions took the opportunity to attack him. Thanks to the quick reactions of the Keepers, he was saved and is recovering well. Poor Enkikwe, who narrowly survived an assault by the lions in February 2018, still walks with a limp but is otherwise doing well in the dependent herd. Turkwel, who lost her tail the same year, also chose to stay with the dependent herd for the whole of this year, although she periodically stays out with Kithaka’s herd.

Malkia, Ndiwa, and Sana Sana graduated from the Nursery to Ithumba in December 2018, after the shorts rains.

So eager were they to sample the buffet of vegetation to be discovered in Tsavo that they used to try to leave before any of the other orphans were ready in the morning! Sana Sana has been a very attentive pupil, watching the older orphans closely, keen to hone her skills in practical things like dust bathing. Ukame is still a hot-tempered little girl and when she picks a fight, there are few dependent orphans who will stick around to find out the result. Wanjala ran away from her one day to seek refuge behind the Keepers, which is always a good tactic, and Pare knew better as well than to engage Ukame when she was in a bad mood and ran off in the other direction. It’s incredible to see how well the orphans know each other’s personalities, and equally, know how to deal with or diffuse a situation.

The Ithumba herd grew by five more when Ambo, Jotto, Kuishi, Malima, and Mapia graduated from the Nursery this year. The timing of these moves are always planned carefully, and after the May rains left the vegetation plentiful and the water pans full, we decided it was the optimum time for Kuishi, Malima, and Mapia to embark on the next step of their journey back to the wild, followed ten days later by best friends Jotto and Ambo. Sweet Malkia has been instrumental in helping Jotto and Ambo settle in, always comforting them whenever they appear to be unsettled or unsure about something in their new environment.

Shortly after the Nursery babies arrived, a number of ex-orphans and their calves — including Mulika and her baby Mwende, Lualeni and her baby Lulu, Galana and her baby Gawa, Teleki, Makireti, Kilabasi, Chaimu, Rapsu, Taita, and Loijuk — showed up at the Ithumba stockade one morning. We were particularly delighted to see Mulika and little Mwende, who were last seen in October 2018, and Teleki, who was last seen in July 2018. The excitement of new additions to Ithumba always draws our ex-orphans closer. This is undoubtedly due to their amazing methods of communication spanning many miles, as they often choose to come and greet new Nursery graduates.

Around the same time that our Nursery group graduated, we made the decision to bring little Dupotto back to Nairobi. She had become extremely thin and lost a lot of condition, so the Nursery was the best place for her to receive round-the-clock care. Although we tried our best to get to the root of what was ailing Dupotto, she did not respond to treatment, and we sadly lost this beautiful elephant on 19th August.

June through September are the colder, dryer months. This is when we really see Ithumba come into its own as a dry season destination for elephants, particularly for large numbers of wild bulls, who pass through on a daily basis to avail themselves of the stockade water trough and mud wallow. Some old faithfuls have returned to the area around Ithumba so frequently over the years that they have become familiar faces. The Keepers have even affectionately named a few of them. There is ‘Dad,’ who fathered ex-orphans Mulika and Yetu’s firstborn babies; ‘Masikio,’ who has a bent ear; ‘One Tusk,’ whose name is self-explanatory; and ‘Limpy,’ who approached the Ithumba Unit two years ago with a horrendous cable snare around his leg, which our Tsavo Vet Unit was able to successfully treat.

Ithumba is full of learning curves for the younger orphans, particularly those who are recent arrivals from the Nairobi Nursery. Being part of the dependent herd allows them to gain vital survival skills and learn from the many wild bulls and our ex-orphans who hang around during the dry season. These youngsters tend to hero worship their older, wild mentors and we often see them imitating their behaviour and actions.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

26

Tomboi, a 17 year old ex-orphan, is fully living wild, but we still see him often throughout the year. He arrives either on his own or, more often than not, in the company of some wild friends. In May, we were shocked to discover him with a wound on his side. He approached the Keepers one morning and turned to his side, as if to present his injury for treatment. The Keepers immediately gave him some lucerne pellets to keep him by the compound while they made arrangements for Dr. Poghon of the SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Unit to come and treat him. He successfully removed an arrow from Tomboi’s side, and when we caught up with the bull a few days later, his wound had healed nicely.

We were delighted when the short rains arrived early in October, brought about by a fortuitous combination of natural events. Although some of the country experienced terrible flooding, Tsavo’s parched landscape experienced a spectacular transformation — the likes of which had not been seen in the region for nearly ten years. We are so grateful for what nature provided, and are confident that it will put the environment in good stead for the coming months, perhaps even years.

27

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

THE UMANI SPRINGS UNIT - ESTABLISHED IN 2014 KIBWEZI FOREST 12 milk dependant elephants The biggest development at the Umani Reintegration Unit this year is that some of our orphans are feeling ready to begin the transition to a wild life. Given that Umani is our newest unit and only opened its doors in 2014, these will be the first of our orphans to be successfully reintegrated from there. Seven year old Ziwa is the ringleader of this group, and wrangles fellow bulls Faraja and Ngasha to spend their nights out and about, fraternising with the wild elephants of the Kibwezi Forest. Lately, Zongoloni has also joined their ranks. Perhaps she did not want to stay in her stockade without the company of her roommate, Faraja. Who would have thought that Ziwa, who just a few years ago was treated as the baby of the herd by Murera and Sonje, would turn into such a confident bull. The group still returns early in the morning for their milk bottles, and are often found eagerly waiting at the gate. They are positively blossoming from all their newfound independence and they always have full bellies and look beautifully healthy.

We knew this day was coming, as Ziwa and his friends started to spend more and more time socialising with the forest’s wild elephants. This is a completely natural progression and something we have experienced time and again at our other Reintegration Units and we, as their human family, are just there to offer guidance and support. That said, it is a process that is completely on their terms and done at a pace that suits the individual. Ten year old Murera and eight year old Sonje, for instance, are two of the oldest members of the herd, but they show no signs of being ready to transition to the wild. This is no doubt due to the fact that they are the matriarchs of Umani and are reluctant to leave their little charges.

Speaking of growing up, the youngest orphans at Umani, Mwashoti and Alamaya, are now nearly six years old.

Alamaya is far more boisterous than Mwashoti; because the Keepers lovingly tended to Mwashoti as he recovered from his terrible snare injury, he has great affection for them and is never far from their side. While we have noticed that he is becoming a bit more bullish and playful, all the other orphans still dote on him, worried about him getting hurt. We often see older females like Zongoloni intervening during pushing games, making sure that he doesn’t get pushed too hard. Because Mwashoti and Alamaya have spent much of the last three years feasting on the lush Kibwezi Forest, they are growing into huge young bulls — in fact, they even dwarf poor Shukuru, who is five years their senior!

We moved Shukuru to Umani in June last year, after she had been relocated back to the Nursery from Ithumba to receive treatment for her persistent illness. She has improved in leaps and bounds in the Kibwezi Forest’s forgiving environment and while she is in much better condition, she still remains slightly aloof and separates herself from the group. This is prudent, as she wants to avoid any boisterous activity that might drain her energy or result in her being pushed around. Her good friends Sonje and Lima Lima diligently look out for her, ensuring that this special girl can go about her day in peace.

One of the most special orphans we have ever raised must be Lima Lima. The Keepers feel such an attachment to her, and the feelings are surely reciprocated, as Lima Lima often demonstrates such a special affinity towards them and is extremely focused on their welfare. When a Keeper fell and hurt his eye one month, she was the first one to respond to his cries and began trumpeting to alert the rest of the group. As they waited for the other Keepers to arrive, she patted her injured friend with her trunk as if to console him. That same month, she even thought to carry a dust coat back to a Keeper when he left it behind in the forest! It is this remarkably caring side that endears Lima Lima so much to her Keepers — and that encourages them to turn a blind eye towards her greedy behaviour, which often lands her in trouble. She has staged several milk heists from the vehicle that transports their midday bottles, and when lucerne bales are pulled down from the store shed, Lima Lima is usually the culprit. When Ziwa and his friends started staying out at night, it was she and Mwashoti who cast a beady eye over their unclaimed milk bottles, opportunistically grabbing them before any of the others could give it a second thought.

29

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

In the hot dry months, the shielding forest canopy is especially important for Jasiri and Faraja. These are our special fair-skinned bulls, a consequence of a genetic mutation, but they know to remain in the shade as much as possible.

They are also two of our most enthusiastic mud bathers, coating their skin in a thick layer of protective mud.

Wild elephants and other animals migrate from the Chyulu Hills to the Kibwezi Forest, knowing that it has a perennial water source in the form of the Umani Springs and offers thicker vegetation than the surrounding areas. The beginning of the year was quite dry, so the orphans had plenty of opportunities to socialise with new elephant friends. We noticed that these wild herds are becoming much more comfortable with our Keepers as well, happy to interact with the orphans even after catching sight of their human carers. One wild bull even went so far as to approach the milk vehicle after the orphans were done with their bottles, while wild herds often approach the stockades at night to drink from the water trough. This is a promising development, as it allows orphans to have prolonged interactions with them, which ultimately helps with their assimilation back into the wild.

Sonje is a very beautiful elephant, and clearly the Kibwezi Forest’s wild bulls agree, as they pay her particular attention.

She, in return, is quite selective about those whose affection she reciprocates. In fact, she has only seemed interested in one bull who used to visit last year, who the Keepers called “Osama”. We have not seen him since, but perhaps he will come by again to woo Sonje. Murera is not as interested in the bulls, preferring instead to shield Mwashoti from any activity that might put him at risk. Jasiri remains very protective of his female friends, particularly Lima Lima and Zongoloni, and when the wild bulls approach he is often heard rumbling at them as if to warn them away. While his best friend Faraja and the other bulls are spending more and more time away, we believe that Jasiri chooses to remain close as he feels a sense of duty to protect the rest of the herd — and perhaps he feels a sense of security from them as well!

Every elephant has a unique personality, and while some come out of their shells as they get older, Quanza is still a shy and timid girl. At eight years old, she is about the same age as Ziwa, yet she shows no signs of wanting to join his semi-dependent group. She surprised the Keepers earlier in the year when she seemed to be in a particularly friendly mood, nuzzling and staying close to them, something she does not often do. Quanza’s rescue was very tragic, as her family was wiped out by poachers, and it took her a long time to regain her confidence and trust her Keepers. Because of this, she has always remained very reserved and understandably cautious of people, which is why it was especially nice for the Keepers to share such a special moment with her. Perhaps Quanza felt overcome by a moment of love and gratitude towards them, despite everything humans had put her through in her past.

This has been a year of wonderful developments at Umani, and we are so excited for what lies ahead for this special group of elephants. As the next months and years unfold, we will watch the orphans reclaim their place in the wild of the greater Tsavo Conservation Area.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

32

THE ORPHANED RHINOS & OTHER ORPHANS The Orphans’ Project is well known for the elephants and rhinos it raises, but there are many other little — and not so little — wild animals that we also open our doors to. At the Nursery, we successfully raised our first reticulated giraffe, Kiko. It has not necessarily been smooth sailing with Kiko, who has grown in leaps and bounds from the rather diminutive baby we rescued back in 2015, when he was less than a week old. Today, he is 12 feet tall and every inch the obstinate adolescent! He resolutely overcame an attack by lions and stoutly puts up with daily rejection from the baby elephants, who refuse to accept him as part of “their” group, but all-in-all we can safely say that we love Kiko.

He has grown into such a big part of the Nursery family, enchanting us with his stubborn and wild ways, and when he graduates to his new wild home in early 2020, he will be sorely missed. Well, Maxwell may be relieved, as Kiko has taken to teasing him by blowing on his back over their stockade partition! Kiko is due to move to Sirikoi, a nurturing environment within the famed Lewa Conservancy, where he will join another hand-raised reticulated giraffe. This area is filled with wild herds of reticulated giraffe, and we know it will be the perfect home for him.

2019 started off warm and dry in Nairobi, as is typical of the weather in January, but that was all to change by October, when uncharacteristically heavy rains fell well into the New Year. Maxwell, the Nursery’s resident blind black rhino, was delighted by this change of circumstances. As is typical of his species, he adores mud baths. During the drier months, we supply him with lots of water and loose soil, so he can wallow to his heart’s content. He likes to roll from side to side, covering every inch of his body in mud, and any visiting warthogs know to make a hasty retreat or risk getting a bath themselves. When the heavy rains ceased to abate, even Maxwell grew weary of the relentlessly wet weather, and we often saw him waiting out the storms from the comfort of his cosy bedroom. In these times, a thick cushion of fresh hay clearly proved more enticing than a stockade full of mud!

The most exciting rhino-related news came in September, when Solio gave birth to her first wild-born calf. We have named her little boy Sultan. Solio was only six months old when she lost her mother to poaching, and after several years in our care at our Nursery, she slowly carved out her own territory and earned her rightful place among the wild black rhino population within Nairobi National Park. Motherhood is an incredibly special milestone for Solio and for us all, as there are only about 5,000 black rhinos left in the wild, with just 745 or so in Kenya. As such, Sultan marks a truly meaningful addition to the population and future of the species.

The same month, our rhino family grew once more in the form of tiny Apollo. This little black rhino was only a few months old when he was found next to the body of his dead mother in Tsavo West National Park. His rescue involved a herculean effort and truly required all hands on deck, from our De-Snaring Teams to the Aerial Unit to KWS Rangers. It was a testament to the extraordinary lengths our team members will go to when an orphan’s life is at stake. We were extraordinarily proud of everyone that day. Because we rescued Apollo in Tsavo, we chose to raise and reintegrate him at our nearby Kaluku Field HQ. He is a very playful little chap who loves nothing more than exploring the banks of the Athi and Mtito Rivers, or lolling in the cool white sand while he gets rubs from his Keepers.

Rhinos are solitary creatures by nature, but Apollo could certainly have playmates if he desired them. At Kaluku, there are always little orphans of various species with whom to play. Baby buffalo Ivia is very keen to befriend him, but this is a rather one-sided affair, as Apollo responds to all of Ivia’s invitations to play by charging at him with his rather robust head! Apollo has grown rapidly in the short time we have had him, bordering on chubby. This is hardly surprising, given that he still savours his bottles of milk and has a bounty of greens with all the rain Tsavo has received this year. He is already beginning to look less and less like a baby, and more like a pint-sized version of an adult rhino.

Our Kaluku Nursery was kept busy from the start of the year. On only the 5th January, we received our first orphan, a female waterbuck who was found abandoned on community land by one of our staff. We named her Mpya and she grew up fabulously, returning to the wild in the midst of all the wonderful rain in November. In April, along came Asha, a lesser kudu, who was rescued after he followed a herd of goats to a farmstead in Nanyuki. We were delighted Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

34

35

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

in May when one of the first Kaluku orphans, a lesser kudu called Sala, had a baby of her own. To mark his distinction as our first Kaluku “grandbaby,” we named him Moja, which means “one” in Swahili. Sala is still a semi-permanent fixture at the HQ, coming and going as she pleases, but perfectly happy with her wild surroundings.

In May, we rescued the first of our buffalo calves, a little girl who we named Cheza (“playful”). She was only a week old when our Yatta De-Snaring Team found her suffering from severe bloat and a navel infection. We managed to set her right however, and she was joined shortly thereafter by an even younger male, who we dubbed Ivia. He had been found abandoned by community members and handed to the KWS Warden of Tsavo West, who in turn entrusted him into our care.

In June, KWS rangers brought us Oka, an oryx who was found abandoned on Lualeni Ranch when she was only a week old. And last, but certainly not least, pint-sized Sticks arrived in November. She is a very lucky little dik-dik, as she was days old when she was snatched and subsequently dropped by an eagle who hoped to scoop her up as a meal.

All in all, and in addition to their daily duties, the members of our team are kept busy — and thoroughly entertained — caring for our eclectic little Kaluku Nursery herd.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

36

Mobile Veterinary Units 5 Mobile Veterinary Units 1 Sky Vet Unit 5 different ecosystems 688 animals attended to in 2019 6,571 animals attended overall 75% success rate

“ For over 17 years, the Trust has been working in partnership with the KWS to provide veterinary support to wildlife in key conservation areas across Kenya. ” Led by experienced KWS field veterinary officers, we now have five permanent Mobile Veterinary Units in the Tsavo Conservation Area, Masai Mara and Central Rift, Meru Ecosystem, Amboseli and Southern Conservation Area, and Mount Kenya and Southern Laikipia Ecosystem. The impact of these units has been enormous; jointly, they have attended to over 6,400 wild animals since their inception, including many endangered and threatened species.

In 2019 alone, our Mobile Veterinary Units attended to 674 wild animals. 184 of these patients were elephants, along with 90 rhinos, 49 lions, 55 giraffes, 125 plains game, and a host of other species. Nearly 23% of these cases (154 in total) were the victims of poaching activities, with snaring the most common culprit.

The Trust continues to operate its rapid aerial response program, Sky Vets, when emergency veterinary cases arise in remote locations that our Mobile Veterinary Units are unable to access. Sky Vets are deployed by air throughout the country. This year, they attended to 66 wild animals, the majority of which were elephants who had been targeted by poachers. Despite the deadly nature of these injuries, many of the patients received a very positive prognosis from the veterinary officers. In fact, only 11% were given a poor prognosis, which shows just how important it is to have a rapid response to any reports of injured animals.

• Tsavo Conservation Area - Started in November 2003 - headed by Dr. Poghon • Masai Mara & Central Rift - Started in March 2007 - headed by Dr. Limo • Meru Ecosystem North Kenya - Started in February 2013 - headed by Dr. Rono • Amboseli & Southern Conservation Area - Started May 2014 - headed by Dr. Kariuki • Mount Kenya, Aberdares & Southern Laikipia - Started September 2017 - headed by Dr. Mjele

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

38

Veterinary Notes from the Field

By Dr. Jeremiah Poghon Tsavo veterinary unit, the oldest of the eight mobile vet units dealing with wildlife in Kenya, had a busy and eventful 2019. The unit was faced with varied challenges in the Tsavo/coast ecosystem that it covers. Top among them was treatment of injuries mainly in elephants inflicted during attempted poaching and human-wildlife-conflict. The leading being arrow wounds, snares, spear wounds, poisoning in that order. 90% of the cases treated recovered, a great achievement given the vastness of the area and the harsh wild conditions the animals have to go through in search of food and water. Luckily in the third quarter of the year the Tsavo ecosystem received a good amount of rain, likely from the El NiĂąo phenomena that brought joy to all the animals.

Threats facing wildlife within the Tsavo ecosystem are man; habitat loss and degradation is the biggest threat currently. Tsavo ecosystem consists of tens of community ranches teaming with wildlife especially elephants. Elephants are migratory and heavily depend on these ranches for food during dry seasons. As more and more people settle, build and cultivate on these areas, areas previously occupied by wildlife becomes less and less. This has led to serious conflicts leading to poisoning of predators (mainly lions and leopards) in areas bordering Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks. Elephants have also been persecuted by being speared, shot with arrows, snared and foot traps mounted. All these cause serious injuries to the animals.

Diseases are also a major problem in wildlife conservation within the ecosystem. As people move livestock into protected areas (Parks and Reserves) diseases are spread from wildlife to livestock and vice versa. This saw emergence of the highly fatal Anthrax infection in Komboyo and Ngulia areas of Tsavo West that killed several animals including a rhino. Rabies cases have also been diagnosed in hyena, jackal and zebra within the ecosystem. Rabies is mostly spread by the domestic dog in the area. Other diseases are Newcastle diseases in Laughing Doves and mange in gazelles and also jackals.

On injuries the ecosystem has seen a drop in injuries caused by gun shots due to increased ground and aerial patrols. The poachers have resorted to using “silent� techniques in killing animals mainly arrow shots and snares. Satao, Dakota, Taita ranches, Galana ranch and Ithumba areas of Tsavo East National Park and Komboyo and Ziwani areas of Tsavo West are the most notorious.

Snares are the most devastating, painful and cruel of all. The unit treated two elephant bulls in February and May 2019 that were dragging big cable wire snares on their front limbs that caused deep wounds and pain to the elephants. Several elephants were also treated for deep cutting snares of the leg and neck in Galana ranch within Tsavo East. A giraffe was treated for a snare around the neck in the previously unreachable areas of Ndia Ndasa, Tsavo East, thanks to the DSWT Helicopter and aeroplanes.

The unit continues to work hard to alleviate the suffering of wildlife caused mainly by human inflicted harm with the Tsavo and coast conservation areas.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

40

41

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

De-Snaring Teams ANTI-POACHING SUPPORT 13 De-Snaring Teams in the TCA 2 Mau Forest Teams 1 Meru National Park Team 60 Scouts in Lamu 84 SWT Rangers 1 Canine Unit 270 arrests made and 5,026 snares removed from the TCA in 2019 428 elephants reported due to Human-Wildlife Conflict in 110 separate cases SWT De-Snaring Teams and year of establishment:

• Chui – Mtito, Tsavo East National Park (1999) • Peregrine – Trust land, Tsavo East (2001) • Faru – Burra, Voi Tsavo East (2002) • Ndovu – Ithumba, Northern Area Tsavo East (2002) • Nyati – Tiva, Northern Area Tsavo East (2004) • Simba – Ziwani, Tsavo West (2004) • Duma – Chyulu, Chyulu Hills (2006) • Mamba – Kenze, Kibwezi Forest (2011) • Meru– Meru National Park (2014) • Yatta – Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East (2016) • Mobile North – Fully Mobile in North TCA (2016) • Sobo – TB, central Tsavo East (2018) • Mobile South - Fully Mobile in South TCA (2018) • Mau Forest 1 (2018) • Mau Forest 2 (2019) • Chyulu Mobile- CHNP & Kiboko Ranch (2019)

In response to the mounting threats and challenges faced in the greater Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA), the Trust’s de-snaring and anti-poaching efforts have grown substantially over the years. The SWT now operates a strong ground force consisting of 13 De-Snaring Teams, which are deployed across Tsavo in partnership with the KWS. It also has a fulltime De-Snaring Team in Meru National Park and two teams in the Mau ecosystem. This constant and widespread presence in these protected areas has contributed to a continued overall decrease in illegal activities in 2019, most noticeably a decline in ivory poaching, which marks a huge success for conservation.

A new unit, called Chyulu Mobile, was deployed in December 2019. This new mobile ranger team will support the static Chyulu Unit, while also extending a security presence over Kiboko Ranch and bordering areas. This team’s primary role is to patrol and respond to breaches along the Chyulu Hills fenceline, along with relieving either the Chyulu or Kenze teams when off duty. The timing of this new team’s deployment is no coincidence: This year, the Trust signed a 25 year agreement for the conservation management of the KALRO Kiboko Ranch, which adjoins Chyulu Hills National Park.

Given the size of the Chyulu Kills, Kibwezi Forest, and the Kiboko Ranch ecosystem, coupled with high levels of illegal activities and human-wildlife conflict in the area, it was necessary to deploy a third team to tackle these challenges.

43

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

There was a significant decrease in ivory poaching this year, with only a few cases discovered within the Tsavo Conservation Area. However, bushmeat poaching and snaring activities, which sees poachers camping at night in the Parks and protected areas, is sadly increasing. The Trust’s field teams remain vigilant, and more than 5,000 snares were removed from the field in 2019 alone. De-Snaring Teams provide a rapid response to poaching reports, bolstered by the Aerial Unit. While the Trust’s on-call helicopter can immediately deploy rangers to more remote locations, additional backup teams are sent to areas where suspected poachers have been spotted, to cut off escape routes and lay strategic ambushes at night. Over the course of the year, 270 arrests were made by these teams. Perpetrators included ivory poachers, bushmeat poachers, charcoal burners, and loggers, along with many encroaching livestock herders and other offenders who were found operating in the Parks.

Apart from routine de-snaring patrols, the SWT teams perform a wide variety of jobs in the field each year. In 2019, human-wildlife conflict mitigation continued to require significant efforts. The teams responded to countless reports of wildlife who had wandered into community areas, and they safely pushed over 400 elephants out of populated areas and back into the safety of the Parks. In these cases, the Trust’s Aerial Unit and helicopter are invaluable in driving elephants back, while ground teams create temporary openings in the electric fencelines so they can reenter the protected lands. These operations prevent likely human-wildlife conflict, protect the community from marauding wildlife, and limit their crop damage.

Firefighting in the Chyulu Hills National Park was another challenge for the teams. For three months, they tirelessly fought fires alongside KWS and Big Life Foundation ground teams. The SWT helicopter, using its precious bambi bucket, proved to be a valuable resource in these efforts. Most blazes were grass fires set by pastoralists, while others were set by poachers in lava forests. Fortunately, these fires did not cause any significant damage to the cloud forest.

This area is marked by harsh terrain, which made the task all the more difficult, but all teams have been trained in wilderness firefighting and are suitably equipped for the task.

The Trust’s field teams also provide vital support to the Mobile Veterinary Units. They monitor patients until the vet arrives, often tracking the animal through thick bush for hours on end. The teams then assist in the treatment of the patient and afterward observe the patient in case a follow up treatment is needed. Likewise, the De-Snaring Teams are also tasked with monitoring any potential orphaned animals, relaying information to the HQ before assisting in rescue if necessary.

In conjunction with SWT aircraft, the teams have also dedicated countless hours and resources to curbing livestock intrusion in the Parks and protected areas. All told, they have assisted the KWS in driving out thousands of cattle and other livestock that are illegally grazing in the protected areas.

During the month of June, a team reshuffle took place and the majority of the De-Snaring Teams were re-deployed to new areas within the Tsavo Conservation Area. This was done to present the teams with the new challenges that come with patrolling different areas in the Tsavo ecosystem. Along with this motivation, the Trust continues to invest in equipment to ensure that the teams are properly outfitted. In 2019, six new Toyota Land Cruisers were outfitted specially for the De-Snaring Teams, replacing the older Land Rovers and Samils that needed to be retired after many years of loyal service. Several De-Snaring bases were also upgraded this year, receiving new accommodation structures and improved solar systems.

In October, one of the Trust’s De-Snaring Rangers was promoted to the role of Wildlife Prosecutions Officer. This is a special position, created to monitor higher profile poaching cases from the initial arrest through to the conviction phase. Working closely with the KWS wildlife prosecutors, police officers, and the judiciary, we are monitoring and recording convictions to ensure the arrests made by the De-Snaring Teams are handled in accordance with the Wildlife Act. In late 2018, two of our team leaders were also trained in lifesaving and trauma treatment before going on to become skills coaches, so they could pass these vital learnings on to the rest of the SWT teams. Trauma kits were also kindly donated to our teams for field use, as well as for training by Ranger Campus. First Aid training for Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

44

all team leaders and select rangers was similarly conducted in January at the SWT Kaluku Field HQ, which is repeated every two years. The Trust conducts an annual Team of the Year competition for the best De-Snaring Team. In 2019, the Ithumba team emerged as the winners, followed by the Mobile North team in second place and the Chyulu & Kenze team in third place. Â The Anti-Poaching and De-Snaring division is continually adapting to any changes in poaching and illegal activity trends, and it looks forward to continuing to make a difference in 2020.

45

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

THE CANINE UNIT

The Trust’s Canine Unit currently consists of five handlers, four dogs and support staff based at the Kaluku kennels in Tsavo East. In 2019, the team made several changes to evolve its Canine operations. This included retiring two of the original dogs, Max and Tanja, who had both served as tracker dogs since inception in 2016 and have now both found wonderful new homes in Kenya to enjoy their retirement. Two new Belgian Malinois, Aya and Zora, arrived in June. They were sourced from Holland by our training partners, Invictus K9, and were trained extensively overseas in tracking and detection. Once in Tsavo, they underwent more on-site training and became familiarised with their new home, as it is always the Trust’s utmost priority to ensure the health and happiness of all our four-legged team members.

Three KWS handlers and one trainee were rotated from the Kaluku kennels late this year, to make way for another three KWS handlers who would benefit from our partnership and advanced training. Invictus K9 continued to provide refresher training for both the canines, especially to introduce Aya and Zora to the Tsavo environment and to our team of handlers. The dogs and their handlers were put through their paces during an intensive six-week session in June, which honed their skills and physical training.

Ben Gardiner joined SWT anti-poaching operations in Kaluku this year, after training with Invictus K9 in Tsavo and Garamba NP in the Democratic of Congo. He is working closely with the Canine Unit and the De-Snaring Teams, engaging the team in areas with higher levels of illegal activities in the TCA. Since their refresher training ended in July, the unit has made 18 arrests, primarily bushmeat poachers.

Detection work is becoming a key focus of the Canine Unit’s work, as there is an increase in the trafficking of illegal bushmeat along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. The dogs have been trained to detect a variety of poaching paraphernalia, including ivory, ammunition, weapons, pangolin scales, and bushmeat. The team remains highly focused on tracking exercises and routine patrols, as they continuously train to improve each dog and handler’s endurance and skills. The team must be prepared to respond to an incident at any time, and these routines keep them primed for the call.

The significant arrest of a bushmeat poacher illustrates the extraordinary skills of tracker dog Naiko and his handler Semeli. During a routine morning patrol, the team found fresh poacher tracks, which Naiko then followed for three kilometers to the Park boundary. Here he continued across a riverbed and for another three kilometers, discovering where the poacher had hidden his bicycle to transport the meat. The team then visually tracked another four kilometers, right to the suspect’s house, and the arrest was made. Apart from the arrest and seizure of equipment, having a Canine Unit track a suspect to his home just hours after the poaching incident serves as a very strong deterrent to other would-be poachers in the area.

A demonstration of the dogs’ detection skills was given to the new Assistant Director of the TCA, Mr Robert Njue, during a visit to Kaluku. He was most impressed with their abilities and how these skills could be used in Tsavo. We look forward to expanding this vital work next year, working in partnership with KWS and the Kenya Police.

47

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

MAU FOREST DE-SNARING TEAMS

The first SWT Mau De-Snaring Team was established in partnership with the Mara Elephant Project in 2018, providing on-the-ground security and surveillance over the largest forest blocks in the Mau Forest Complex. This encompasses the South Western Mau Forest Reserve (60,000 hectares), Transmara Forest Reserve (34,386 hectares), and some parts of Western Mau Forest Reserve (5,944 hectares).

The Mau Team is part of a much greater plan to protect this vast conservation area, working in partnership with stakeholders including the KWS, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Mara Elephant Project and the Bongo Surveillance Project. The Mau Forest Complex, which spans over 270,300 hectares, sits within Kenya’s Rift Valley and is the largest indigenous montane forest in East Africa. It serves as a critical water catchment area for the country and is the source from which numerous rivers flow. These rivers supply bodies of water like Lake Victoria, which receives 60% of its water from Mau, and serve as lifelines for much of western Kenya’s wildlife and people.

Following on from the success of the first Mau Team, the Trust has since established a second team in the Mau area, known as the Mbili Team. A selection process for this new De-Snaring Team was conducted, and then the newly recruited cadets embarked on a six-week training program run by MEP NCOs and Narok County Government officers. Just like the first unit, this team consists of seven men, including the support of four KWS rangers.

The Trust’s Mau De-Snaring Teams are textbook examples of the impact that new ranger units can have in an unprotected area. In the first half of 2019, they removed 113 snares used to catch small animals and nine spears targeting elephants, destroyed eight poachers’ camps, seized 70 kilograms of bushmeat, and arrested seven suspects for illegal logging and one for charcoal production. In addition to their monthly successes, the units were also required to fight forest fires during the year.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

48

Aerial Surveillance SUPPORTING THE TSAVO CONSERVATION AREA 5 Fixed Wing Aircraft 2 Helicopters 4 SWT Pilots 1,624 hours flown in 2019 214,123 kms flown in 2019

The SWT currently operates seven aircraft, including a TopCub (5Y-DTP), SuperCub (5Y-STP), four-seater SuperCub (5Y TRA), Cessna 185 (5Y-DHS), Cessna 206 (57 CFZ), Eurocopter A350 (5Y-CXP), and Eurocopter EC120, which was deployed in early 2019. The EC120 is the baby version of the A350, and as a result it is much cheaper to run, as it is less powerful. However, this makes it ideal for all the purposes previously fulfilled by our Hughes 500, which has since been sold. Since its deployment in Tsavo, the new Eurocopter has been invaluable in elephant darting operations and veterinary support, along with rapidly deploying rangers and the Canine Unit to emergency callouts.

Over the years, aerial surveillance has proven to be an invaluable asset in the fight against ivory, bushmeat, and rhino horn poaching; alleviating human-wildlife conflict; fighting fires; assisting elephant treatments; and tackling the broader threats to wildlife and habitats as a whole. It is a vital tool and our ‘eyes in the sky’ are a huge support for the ground teams in preventing illegal activities and apprehending offenders. In addition, our Aerial Unit is onhand to help save the lives of many injured elephants and other wildlife that are not easily identified by the teams on the ground. During 2019, the Aerial Unit flew 1,624 hours and covered over 214,123 kilometers patrolling the Tsavo Conservation Area, with surveillance stretching as far as the coastal Lamu District. The year presented many challenges, which the SWT’s pilots have handled quickly and adeptly.

In February, the Trust’s helicopter joined the efforts to battle the fires raging on Mount Kenya. Working alongside the Mount Kenya Trust, Tropic Air, Farmland Aviation, KWS, and other volunteers, the helicopter’s bambi bucket waterbombed the mountain for two days until the blaze was under control. The Trust was proud to be part of this joint effort, which spared this precious mountain ecosystem from extreme damage.

Back in the Tsavo ecosystem, the helicopter was similarly called upon to fight dangerous fires throughout the year. The worst of the blazes took place in August, sending up flames in the Chyulu Hills. The bambi bucket once again proved its worth, collecting water from the new Kenze Hill water reservoir to waterbomb the fires. Rangers, meanwhile, were dropped at strategic locations to clear vegetation and fight the flames on the ground.

In March, the KWS called upon the Trust’s helicopter to support a rhino vaccination effort in Nakuru National Park. Over the course of three days, darting operations took place from the SWT helicopter, successfully vaccinating countless rhinos. In April, the Aerial Unit evacuated an injured KWS ranger who had broken his shoulder after a buffalo hit him while on foot patrol in the Chyulu Hills National Park. The Trust’s helicopter was immediately on the scene, and the SWT pilot attended to the patient as he was airlifted to the hospital in Nairobi. We’re happy to report that thanks to the rapid response and subsequent treatment, the ranger has made a full recovery.

Human-elephant conflict continues to be a recurring challenge for the Aerial Unit. In January alone, the Trust’s helicopter pushed more than 400 elephants from community lands near Sagalla. The Chyulu Hills ecosystem experiences the most conflict. In March, the helicopter guided a number of elephants back to the safety of the

51

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

Chyulus, but two stubborn individuals refused to be moved. They were darted from the air before an SWT-funded animal transportation vehicle, operated by a KWS team, drove in to physically move the elephants back into the Park.

The circumstances surrounding this operation, which took place in a lava field, could not have been more challenging — but it was successfully completed nonetheless.

Bushmeat poaching, especially snaring, continues to blight the ecosystem. Although it is a menace year-round, it peaked in August with the discovery of many makeshift poaching camps, bicycles, and other telltale bushmeat poaching paraphernalia. This spike arrived hand-in-hand with an increase in illegal logging and charcoal activities.

Giraffe seemed to be the primary target during this peak bushmeat poaching period; several individuals were treated by the Trust’s Veterinary Units and several more deaths were discovered. However, activities dropped off in October once the rains commenced.

As a major contributor to the previous Wildlife Censuses in the Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA), the Trust participated in the initial planning meetings for the upcoming 2020 Aerial Census, which will take place in February 2020. This is a very important undertaking, and one that results in the collection of invaluable data. The Trust is able to offer its expertise, pilots, aircraft, and aviation fuel to what will surely be another successful census.

2019 saw a positive reduction in illegal livestock intrusion into the TCA, especially in Tsavo East. However, large numbers of livestock were discovered in Tsavo West throughout the year. These repeated incursions precipitated a large coordinated response effort between the Trust, Wildlife Works, and the KWS. With aerial support, 16 arrests were made and thousands of cattle were evicted from the Park. This operation was particularly successful in the northern sector of Tsavo West, but reduced numbers of cattle remain in the southern sector. Another big operation, organised by the government, took place in South Kitui National Reserve to evict squatters who had settled illegally in the protected areas. The SWT helicopter assisted in surveying the area and the extent of the settlement.

During November and December, the greater TCA continued to experience widespread rains. This left the land swathed in green, with full watering holes and very happy wild inhabitants. Such heavy downpours also caused rivers to break their banks in the southern sector of the Park, creating disasters in the bordering communities. During these periods of heavy rain, the Aerial Unit remains primed to respond to any evacuations that may be needed, while keenly monitoring water levels in the more dangerous rivers.

A major highlight towards the end of the year was the discovery of a one week old rhino calf born in Tsavo East. The little female calf was spotted first by rangers before the Aerial Unit was able to confirm her sex and the identity of the mother. We are thrilled that the rhino population of Tsavo East now stands at 17 individuals, up from a low of nine not too long ago.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

52

Aerial Notes from the Field

By Andy Payne ‘Whenever I attempt to summarise recent events in Tsavo I can’t help but reflect on the rain. It seems everything in Tsavo revolves around water and rain. The movement of animals and their survival depends very much on where and when water appears. Every year, as October, and the beginning of Tsavo’s main rainy season approaches, we wonder endlessly about when the rain will start and whether it will be enough. We lookout for tell-tale signs that the rain is coming, from ostriches sitting on clutches of eggs in the baking sun, to acacias flowering, and the occasional lone fire lily, which is perhaps the surest sign that rain is on the way. It is impossible to know how much rain is coming, but however much rain appears and wherever it falls will set the stage for Tsavo in the coming months.

The year 2019, for me, will undoubtedly be defined by the best rains that we have experienced since I started working in Tsavo.

They were the best for many reasons. In early 2018, we also experienced heavy rains, but they followed 3 years of drought as well as huge amounts of unrestricted grazing of livestock in the area. Very little vegetation remained to slow the passage of water; the result being a devastating flood that wiped out several lodges entirely and caused damage to literally every camp or lodge along the Athi-Galana River; a river that over 5 years I had come to know so well was forever changed. Whole groves of riverine forest ripped from the ground and sent downstream to be deposited in huge, chaotic piles of wood and plastic waste, washed down from Nairobi. But this year was different.

In October, slow steady rains fell across most of the country, soaking into the ground and awakening trillions of dormant plant seeds that sprouted and carpeted the land in verdant, swathes of vegetation. By the time Tsavo’s characteristically dramatic thunderstorms arrived, there was a thick layer of grass, shrubs and leafy trees to catch several massive deposits of rain and stop the water from flowing like a sheet across bare earth as it did in 2018. With huge rains across much of the country, we braced for another cataclysmic flood, but it never came. The river rose, but instead of rushing past like a tidal wave, it sustained roaring levels for several weeks and then slowly began to abate.

The rains fell evenly across much of Tsavo, with the Southern and Northern extents receiving the most. What are normally a few light showers in October, followed by consistent rain in November and the first half of December, was 3 months of consistent rain.

Tsavo has become a paradise, full of promise. Elephants have spread to every corner of the Park and enjoy thick, lush vegetation and numerous waterholes – some which have not filled in several years. These great rains have come on the tail of sustained efforts by KWS and SWT to repel illegal livestock from the Park, so large parts of the Park and especially Tsavo East are getting a chance to breathe for the first time in years.

It is hard to be in Tsavo at the moment and not be optimistic about the future. Flying overhead, one quickly forgets what Tsavo looks like in its dry season winter. In place of dry, leafless trees and bare, red earth is a veritable jungle. Elephants, normally grey and ashen, pop out from the dark green vegetation, covered in a fresh layer of mud from the nearest waterhole. Although difficult to spot under a heavy canopy, life is everywhere. It is a time to rejoice in the work that we have done to protect this amazing part of the world and all the little animals and plants that call it home. It is a time to rest and plan for the coming months because the animals, for a time being, are offered safety in the available expanse of Tsavo, no longer bound to the few permanent water supplies in Tsavo, but free to roam over an area the size of Wales.

Because of my involvement in the Trust’s tree-planting activities, I always feel a twinge of regret during above-average rainy seasons that we did not plant more trees, but this is usually followed by a resolve to be even more prepared for the next. With this in mind, we have a lot of exciting activities in the pipeline for 2020 with new tree nurseries being developed, old ones being expanded, as well as a partnership developing with a well-established, international reforestation organisation to kick-start a large-scale project in Lamu County.

I am reminded again of how privileged I am to be working in Tsavo with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. We have so much to be proud of and so much to look forward to. During this time of abundant rain, it is wonderful to have a glimpse of the potential of Kenya’s wild spaces so that in a few months’ time when the land becomes desperately dry once again, we will remember what we’re fighting for. We will hold onto the hope that each stunning revival is better than the last and do what we can to make sure that it is.’

53

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

Saving Habitats KIBWEZI FOREST The Trust commenced management of the Kibwezi Forest a decade ago, and every year since it has proudly seen a significant increase in wildlife numbers and a decline in illegal activities. These successes, which extend beyond the forest and into Chyulu Hills National Park, can be largely attributed to the construction and continued maintenance of 93 kilometers of human-proof electric fencelines, robust anti-poaching and de-snaring efforts, and a moratorium on the extraction of natural resources in the forest, which was imposed by the Kenya Forest Service in 2015.

To further advance the rehabilitation of the Kibwezi Forest and its groundwater springs, which provide a lifeline for wildlife and humans alike, the Trust spearheaded extensive tree planting programs over the course of the year. With generous funding from Chantecaille, over 60,000 indigenous tree seedlings were raised in the Trust’s dedicated tree nurseries and then planted in degraded areas. These species, which include acacia, melia, and newtonia, thrive in the lush forest environment and have benefited greatly from the bountiful rains experienced over the past months.

There is a high survival rate for the majority of these seedlings, and the teams look forward to seeing them replenish the forest.

While the Trust successfully reforested the Kibwezi Forest in 2019, the neighbouring Chyulu Hills experienced forest fires on a scale it had not seen in many years. While swathes of trees were destroyed, rapid response from the aerial and ground teams spared huge areas from the blaze. In between airlifting SWT and KWS rangers to strategic areas to fight the fire on the ground, the Trust’s helicopter also spent countless hours ferrying water to dump on the flames.

When the blaze extended into the Chyulu Hills, the Trust employed members of the local community to create firebreaks and ready security access tracks.

The Trust’s newly constructed water holding tank, which sits atop Kenze Hill, was a vital asset during these difficult times. It served as a reservoir for the helicopter to collect water, which it then transported to the scene of the fire and dumped on the flames. Throughout the rest of the year, it feeds water to access points for wildlife within the Kibwezi Forest. Thus far, five water troughs have been built for wildlife through an agreement from WRMA.

Another focus this year was rehabilitating the network of roads within the Kibwezi Forest and Chyulu Hills. Over 18 kilometers of fire breaks and roads were upgraded and murrammed with help from the Trust’s new backhoe and tipper truck, while an additional 42 kilometers of roads connecting Kibwezi and the Chyulu Hills were graded.

These facilitate safe and easy access to all areas of the conservation area, while also supporting the area’s tourism infrastructure and allowing guests to discover the more remote areas of the forest.

The Umani Springs Eco Lodge continues to attract growing numbers of local and international guests, all of whom are eager to experience this precious wilderness and meet the 12 orphaned elephants who are currently being reintegrated into the Kibwezi Forest. The Umani Springs herd is attracting more and more wild visitors, as their presence is proof to wild elephants and other creatures that the Forest is once more a safe place to call home.

In 2019, the Trust finalised a management deal and lease with KARI Ranch, an important wildlife dispersal area that borders the Chyulu Hills. This land is a hot-spot for human-wildlife conflict, as elephants maraud onto community land and leave a path of destruction in their wake. As part of the lease, the Trust has commenced ranger patrols and begun work on a fenceline that will finally block off the movement of elephants onto homesteads and smallholdings.

The illegal livestock herds on the ranch, which consist of mostly camels, are also being evicted. As a result of these efforts, we expect to see a huge improvement in the area, which in turn will relieve pressure on other areas like the Kibwezi Forest.

57

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

CHYULU HILLS REDD+ PROJECT The Chyulu Hills REDD+ Project is a partnership between the SWT and the KWS, KFS, Big Life Foundation, Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, and four group ranches on the western side of the Chyulu Hills. Together, these partners own or manage 410,533.84 hectacres, comprising Chyulu Hills National Park (KWS), part of Tsavo West National Park (KWS), Kibwezi Forest (KFS, managed by SWT), Mbirikani Group Ranch, Kuku Ranch, Kuku A Ranch and Rombo Ranch. At the launch of the project, around two million carbon credits were available for sale.

A relatively small sale to Tiffany & Co. late in 2017 enabled an injection of cash, which supported the project office and other critical activities while also providing a dispersal to each of the partners and allowing them to start implementing conservation and/or community-based projects. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that the first large sale was finalised with Gucci for 350,000 credits, generating US$2 million for this important ecosystem. Not only will the Trust benefit directly from a dispersal of funds from this sale, but our work will be enhanced by the activities of each of the partner organisations and the project office. A large percentage of the funds will target communities in and around the project area, where the majority of threats to the habitat originate.

Also in 2019, Tiffany & Co. made another small purchase of credits. The project attracted a large investment from tech giant, Apple, which has committed to support several restoration projects in the landscape through Conservation International.

In preparation for 2020, the Chyulu Hills REDD+ Project is gearing up for another verification, so we will have another set of carbon credits available for sale sometime in late 2020 or early 2021. The Trust is proud to have played a part in getting the project to the place where it is today. Working with our partners, our sustained efforts over the last several years has given the project credibility and provided a massive amount of protection to the carbon stock and biodiversity. This will, through the sale of carbon credits, generate income to sustain and enhance more of these activities in the future. This is the first carbon project of its kind in Kenya, with both private and government entities working together towards a common goal. It will increase collaboration and reduce the duplication of efforts, for the betterment of one of Kenya’s most important water towers and biodiversity hotspots.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

58

PROJECT AMU & WITU FOREST

In Lamu District on the northern coast of Kenya, there is a little known jewel that is home to Kenya’s greatest biodiversity. The Trust has a collaborative partnership with the Lamu Conservation Trust (LCT), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to protect, manage, and preserve this haven. Amu Ranch and Witu are huge group ranches, still pristine and home to a myriad of animals and birds, including many rare and endemic species. The Trust’s presence here has spanned over a decade and without this partnership, it is very possible that the area would have been destroyed like so many other wild parts of Kenya. It is one of our most vital conservation challenges today to save these places for our future, as they fuel life for so much flora and fauna.

The Trust has an excellent working relationship with the Lamu Conservation Trust and all the relevant government institutions, police and security forces, and the KWS and the KFS. The KWS continues to attach a section of rangers to Amu Ranch, supporting anti-poaching operations and providing critical boots on the ground. Herders present a significant challenge, and SWT/LCT patrol teams must keep constant surveillance to ensure no manyattas are erected within Amu’s protected zones and that cattle remain on the periphery of the ranch. Bushmeat poaching is another big challenge, although cases have declined due to persistent patrols.

Over the course of the year, the Amu teams patrolled over 14,100 kilometers by vehicle and over 600 kilometers by foot throughout the greater Lamu ecosystem. The Witu Forest team covered 9,045 kilometers by vehicle and 236 kilometers by foot. During these daily patrols, which are supported by armed KWS rangers, a total of 38 arrests were made in 2019. 180 kilograms of bushmeat and two warthog skins were confiscated, while 51 snares were removed. The teams also responded to 21 human-wildlife conflict incidents, involving elephants and other wildlife encroachment.

Work has started on integrating the Lamu project into the Trust’s extensive radio network. The team recently achieved the first step, getting an internet link to Amu’s headquarters at Farouk Camp through a point-to-point radio system. The next step is to upgrade all the radios to digital radios and install a digital repeater, which will allow us to communicate with Lamu from anywhere within our network in Tsavo. The digital aspect of the radio system also allows us to better track all movements through the Turbonet Server in our Ops room at Kaluku. This system enhances our management capabilities enormously.

The Trust’s three boreholes on Amu continue to operate smoothly, supplying vital water for wildlife. We have refurbished much of the Farouk Camp infrastructure this year, while also maintaining the 230 kilometers of road within the ranch.

We are raising a number of orphans on Amu. Mukugunya the zebra was recently successfully reintegrated into the wild herds, while Konambaya and Pangani the buffalos are also spending more time with wild populations. Ngwazile, a duiker, and Wido, an oribi, will remain in our care for some time to come.

We are extremely proud of our reforestation program in this region. Year over year, our Amu Nursery cultivates more and more seedlings to be planted in important areas, and the program is only growing. In 2019, 7,476 indigenous trees were planted by our field teams and community volunteers between Amu and Witu.

PEREGRINE CONSERVATION AREA

The Peregrine Conservation Area was established in 1997. Since this time, the Trust has continued to add to it by purchasing land when it becomes available. This area serves as an important security buffer zone to Tsavo and is also home to the Trust’s Kaluku Field Headquarters and the base of our aerial and canine teams. The Peregrine Conservation area comprises 4,800 acres and is full of wildlife, including many resident elephant herds that chose to take up residence during the dry season of 2019.

63

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

A newly purchased parcel of land has been selected to be developed into a reforestation program with indigenous trees. Earlier in the year, we began work on an animalproof fence to ensure that the saplings planted can grow for the next five to eight years without interference from elephant, buffalo, porcupines, or any other animals. Also in the works is the construction of a new well, which was dug adjacent to the river to collect sand-filtered water through a sealed borehole casing. This water is pumped to a 55,000-litre holding tank at the bottom of the sixacre reforestation area, which is then further pumped up to another 55,000-litre header tank and gravity fed back to the woodlot, which will become home to over 600 indigenous trees.

THE MWALUGANJE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

In the 1970s and 80s, heavy poaching in Tsavo (which sits 60 kilometers to the north) drove elephants to seek refuge in the Shimba Hills area. In the years that followed, human encroachment further compressed elephant habitat. Unsurprisingly, human-elephant conflict intensified in the Shimba Hills region. In a bid to address this growing issue, KWS and stakeholders developed a plan that would allow elephants to move freely. The community-owned Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, which was established in 1994, created a wildlife corridor between Shimba Hills National Park and Mwaluganje Forest Reserve. Through the Sanctuary’s operation model, local community members are compensated for leasing their farmland to serve as an elephant corridor, which is funded by the Trust.

Located about 35 kilometers southwest of Mombasa, Kenya’s largest coastal city and the centre of coastal tourism, the Sanctuary comprises 36 square kilometers of rolling hills. Cut by the meandering Pemba River, the hills gradually rise from the Shimba Hills National Reserve and toward the Mwaluganje Forest, a dry upland forest that is protected by the local Mijikenda people as a kaya (sacred place). The Sanctuary is critically important to the health of the area’s plants and animals. Without the corridor, elephants would find their migration interrupted and the resulting impact on the fragmented habitat would render the ecosystem unsustainable. The Sanctuary hosts a variety of plant and animal species, including critically endangered cycads, petrified forests, and sacred sites revered by the Mijikenda people.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

With the support of KWS, scouts continue to patrol the area and poaching certainly appears to be under control.

Significant and consistent rain throughout the year has left the Sanctuary lush and verdant. The downside is that it makes it nearly impossible to count the elephant populations within the Sanctuary, especially once they are in the Shimba Hills. In December, however, over 100 elephants were sighted at the Marere Dam and it is not unusual to see 70-80 individuals from the air.

In 2019, the Trust invested ten million shillings to redo the road network throughout the Mwaluganje Reserve, which had become totally impassable. This makes the area accessible to tourists once again and allows the Sanctuary to benefit further from gate takings. As it is located less than an hour’s drive from numerous beach resorts on the south coast of Kenya, the Sanctuary will undoubtedly attract tourists who can enjoy the opportunity to see some of Kenya’s iconic species while on a beach holiday.

THE MOUNT KENYA TRUST

The Trust has supported the Mount Kenya Trust and their dedicated mobile camping patrols for nearly three years. We have funded equipment, rations, and logistics, and in 2016 donated a new Land Rover Defender 4X4 that continues to be an invaluable asset to all operations.

Mobile camping patrols are essential to reach the remote parts of Mount Kenya that are not under regular surveillance or are known hotspots for illegal activities.

During these patrols, the Mount Kenya Trust teams expand beyond their regular bases to areas around the mountain, working in conjunction with KWS teams.

This allows the teams to act quickly when an emergency situation arises, such as fighting fires on the mountain or responding to poaching incidents.

Before 2016, patrols were limited to just a handful each year and were focused on the northern boundaries of the mountain. With the support of the SWT, the Mount Kenya Trust has greatly increased the number of mobile camping patrols, allowing surveillance to take place more regularly and for longer periods of time, particularly in the west and south east conservation areas. This has been critical in the Mount Kenya Trust’s efforts to expand ranger patrols around the entire mountain boundary.

64

A special mention from the Mount Kenya Trust Team “Jimmy is the Northern Sector Ranger Supervisor with the Mount Kenya Trust. He supports the ranger teams with logistics, vehicle, personnel and administration duties. Never have we met a more entertaining ranger in all our travels. The man is full of laughter and stories from his extensive experiences in the work he does.

Scaling the mountain daily, Jimmy knows the area like the back of his hand. If you need a short cut – Jimmy knows one. If you are lost – Jimmy can help. If ranger teams need back up – Jimmy’s your man! He is one of the most dedicated rangers we’ve ever worked with and he is in a very committed relationship with the Land Rover Defender 90 he drives which was donated by the SWT.

His love for the mountain was so evident when we saw his rage at witnessing illegal water pipes halfway up the moorlands. His desire to protect this mountain that he calls home is something that we all can take a lesson from. It’s individuals like Jimmy who put everything on the line to protect the places we take for granted.

Even mountains need heroes.”

65

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

KIMANA CORRIDOR AND KIMANA SANCTUARY

Building on the exciting new partnership supporting Amboseli’s Kimana Springs Conservation Corridor in early 2017, the Trust embarked on a lease-funding partnership of the Kimana Sanctuary with Big Life Foundation (BLF) in 2019. This support takes the form of an annual financial commitment towards land leases that make up this priceless wildlife sanctuary, while BLF continues to provide the security rangers and patrols necessary to keep both the sanctuary and corridor conservation areas safe. The ‘Conservation Lease Program’ secures land for wildlife movement and habitat protection, while providing substantial benefits to community members at a direct household level. In addition to the conservation lease program, Big Life employs and manages 57 community game rangers in the conservancies. These rangers create a safe zone in which elephants and other wildlife species are protected from poaching.

Kimana Sanctuary comprises 6,000 acres adjacent to the Kimana Swamps. Nestled in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, it is home to some of Amboseli’s famous elephant herds and many other species. Wildlife monitoring in the Sanctuary indicates a healthy ecosystem; the buffalo population has risen from less than 15 in 2014 to over 50 in 2019, a sub-adult male lion started using the Sanctuary in 2019, and a group of four male cheetah and a leopard have been seen recently.

The Trust is proud to support the Kimana Corridor and Sanctuary through its Saving Habitats program, which restores threatened environments back to their natural state — particularly those that have been damaged by human encroachment and over-extraction. Maintaining this ecosystem and managing it effectively is more important now than ever. Its trees and grasses are an important food resource for wild animals and their livestock counterparts. The Kimana Corridor provides passage for elephants and other wildlife moving east from Amboseli National Park to the Chyulu Hills and Tsavo West National Parks.

To further support the future of this ecosystem through sustainable tourism, the Trust is planning on establishing a new tented camp within Kimana Sanctuary. All proceeds from the camp, which will be thoughtfully built to blend Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

into the environment, will fund annual lease fees and the continued protection of the Sanctuary. Its presence will significantly increase gate fees and provide additional jobs for the community, making it an invaluable addition to the Kimana conservation initiatives.

KALRO RANCH We are excited to share the newest ecosystem to enter our Saving Habitats program: KALRO Ranch, a stunning and ecologically significant wilderness that abuts Chyulu Hills National Park. In 2019, the Trust formalized a 25 year agreement with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock and Research Organization (KALRO) to secure 63,259 acres within the ranch for wildlife conservation. The ranch, which lies within an area of recent volcanic activity, is by nature a marginal agriculture zone characterized by low and unreliable rainfall. However, it is an important foraging and drinking area for wildlife. Given Chyulu Hills National Park lacks surface water, creatures of all shapes and sizes, including elephants and black rhino, come to KALRO to avail themselves of its natural springs.

KALRO Ranch and the Chyulu Hills National Park share an eastern border with community-owned lands that are used for subsistence farming. This is a precarious situation; the area has a population density greater than 100 people/km² and the ranch boundary is unfenced. As such, human-wildlife conflict, illegal livestock grazing, charcoal burning, bushmeat and ivory poaching and human encroachment pose significant conservation threats to KALRO Ranch and the adjacent Chyulu Hills.

Through our new partnership, KALRO will make wildlife conservation the primary land use within the ranch, in return for an annual conservation fee paid by the Trust.

As we have seen time and again, wild borders are one of the best ways to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and prevent illegal activities, so we have committed to constructing and maintaining a new high spec electrical fenceline along the eastern and northern boundaries of the ranch. In December 2019, we deployed a new SWT/KWS De-Snaring team to provide on-the-ground surveillance and security.

66

After working closely with local leaders and community members to ensure this is a collaborative partnership, we are now in the process of constructing the electric fence and associated infrastructure to protect this vital habitat. This first phase of the fencing will cover approximately 43 kilometers, running along the eastern boundary of the KALRO Kiboko land from the Kibwezi-Chyulu electric fence at Tindima Hill to the Kilenyeti River. As the human footprint expands, wild spaces across Kenya are increasingly under threat. Through forward-thinking solutions like this one, we can secure key habitats like KALRO Ranch and create sustainable conservation solutions that are a win-win for people and wildlife.Â

67

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

SUPPORT FOR OUR KWS PARTNERS The SWT continues to support the KWS where possible, providing funding and resources towards operations at a field level. Support is filtered to KWS throughout the country, from the coastal districts to Laikipia, Mount Kenya, Meru National Park and northern Kenya.

In 2013 the Trust backed the KWS with the idea of a Rapid Response Unit which could work closely with the SWT De-Snaring Teams, Veterinary Units and Aerial Unit in Tsavo. Since establishment this team has been responding to any emergency cases reported, placing boots on the ground rapidly to achieve greater success.

With a donated Land Cruiser as well as a fully kitted out trailer, the SWT continues to support the team’s annual operations. Having been stringently trained in the protocols associated with working in field conditions with the SWT helicopter and aircraft as well as the Canine Unit, the Rapid Response team is a valuable asset in Tsavo operations. More recently the Trust has funded a KWS Rapid Response team for the Mount Kenya region and funds the operational cost of this team as well as funding their equipment needs.

Vehicle and machinery donations from the Trust to the KWS continue to be made annually. During 2019, two new Mitsubishi trucks fitted with 9,000 litre water bowsers, were donated to Nairobi National Park and Tsavo West; both these bowsers are invaluable for transporting and supplying water for both wildlife and personnel within the Parks, especially during the dry seasons. As well as the trucks two new Land Cruisers were donated to KWS

by SWT for their security teams in Tsavo.

KWS vehicle maintenance is also regularly supported and during the year the SWT donated tyres for KWS security vehicles in Tsavo East, and rehabilitated a number of their vehicles by purchasing the necessary spare parts required to keep their wheels turning for their vehicle fleet in Tsavo East and West. Due to heavy mileage travelled in off-road driving conditions, tyres are always a much-needed commodity to ensure the vehicles are well maintained and that patrols and duties continue to be efficiently carried out.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

FENCELINES Electric fencelines erected by the Trust in areas of need continue to provide the valuable security so necessary in keeping communities safe from elephants, and the elephants safe from people. We have now funded over 300kms of electric fencelines, and never undertake a fenceline before committing to its long term maintenance, because a fence unmaintained becomes a real hazard with the wires used for poaching and snare purposes.

All the Trust funded fencelines are patrolled daily and managed stringently by the SWT so that they become a very valuable deterrent towards illegal activities and human-wildlife conflict. The majority of these fences have been installed in the Tsavo Conservation Area, with particular emphasis on the Chyulu Hills National Park, whilst fence work has also been completed in both Nairobi and Meru National Parks. Currently the SWT is constructing two new fences, one along the new KALRO Ranch boundary as well as an upgrade of the Tsavo West Kamboyo fenceline to Mtito Ande. The Trust continues its responsibility for all these fences by ensuring the maintenance and good working order of each one, which is a significant financial commitment, but one which is very rewarding as remarkable results are achieved in the protection of these threatened ecosystems.

63 Km Northern Area, Tsavo East fence 10 Km Nairobi National Park fence 77.8 Km Kibwezi – Chyulu Hills fence 17 Km Voi - Ngutuni fence 83.5 Km² Meru Rhino Sanctuary fence 16 km Kamboyo IPZ Rhino Fenceline (in construction) 43 km KALRO - Kibwezi-Chyulu fence

KAMBOYO IPZ FENCELINE In 2019 the KWS requested support from the Trust to upgrade the existing Kamboyo Intensive Rhino Protection Zone fenceline in Tsavo West, as the old fence was no longer secure enough. The Kamboyo IPZ was created over a decade ago and spans an extensive area of over 20,000 km2 with some of the best black rhino habitat in the country and is crucial for meeting long term conservation targets. Black rhinos have been able to range freely in Tsavo West National Park due to the IPZ for many years, but with increasing pressure on the environment and threats to the black rhino population, upgrading the unsecured fence is of the utmost importance.

70

This new fenceline will span approximately 16km following the alignment of the existing fence. Subsequent to site visits and discussions, a 14 strand un-shortable fence is being installed which will deter humans from entering and elephants from breaking out into the small holdings. The advantages of the un-shortable version is that even if the fence is cut or tampered with it remains live, whilst the bottom wire becomes live when tampered with thus preventing people from digging under the fence. Due to the high human and elephant pressure on this section the fence will also be monitored in four sections with an alarm and strobe activated if the fence is shorted.

WATER FOR WILDLIFE Boreholes and windmills have been installed throughout the Tsavo Conservation Area by the Trust providing yearround access to water for wildlife in some of the most arid and remote areas. To date the SWT has constructed 24 boreholes in the Tsavo Conservation Area, five of which are solar operated whilst six are operated by windmills. Each borehole is routinely maintained by the Trust’s maintenance team to ensure all are in good working order at all times, with increased weekly clearing of all the troughs during the dry seasons. 2019 may have been an incredible year for rainfall, which thankfully has rested these areas given that all the natural waterholes are bursting with water at the moment, but the dry season will eventually return and these boreholes will once again provide a lifeline to Tsavo’s elephants and wildlife. The Trust also continues to utilize its five water bowsers, each with a 20,000-litre water capacity. These bowsers are vital for the Orphans’ Project and are always on standby during droughts to replenish dried out water pans.

During 2019 a new borehole was established in the Thabangunji area in southern Tsavo East, and the extensive infrastructure and solar panels put in place allows for the pumping of water to four different watering points for wildlife and then further to the KWS Thabangunji ranger base situated five kms away. New boreholes at Ithumba and Mbololo were also funded by SWT to further support the wildlife of Tsavo East.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

Ndii Ndaza; Northern Area of Tsavo East National Park Ndara; south of the Voi river, southern sector of Tsavo East Voi; close to the Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters, Tsavo East Aruba; southern sector of Tsavo East Ithumba; Northern Area of Tsavo East Ithumba Dam; helps serve the Orphans Project in the Northern Area of Tsavo East Kamboyo; Tsavo West National Park Kanderi; Voi river course, Tsavo East Tiva; Tiva River, Northern Area of Tsavo East Ithumba stockades; Ithumba Mountain Northern Area of Tsavo East Didea; Ndara plains southern sector Tsavo East Dida Harea; southern sector of Tsavo East Kone; eastern boundary of Tsavo East Taita Hills Sanctuary Wangala; southern Tsavo East Kaluku 1; Kaluku, Tsavo East Kaluku 2; Kaluku, Tsavo East Canine Unit; Kaluku, Tsavo East Kenze; Kibwezi Forest Kenze 2; Kibwezi Forest Ithumba Stockades 2; Saline, Northern Area of Tsavo East Mbololo; southern Tsavo East Thabangunji borehole, southern Tsavo East Ithumba; Northern Area of Tsavo East

71

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT The Trust has undertaken invasive species management projects in the Kibwezi Forest and Tsavo East National Park. In Kibwezi Forest, through repeated exercises by means of mechanical removal, the team is confident that the highly invasive Prosopis juliflora tree has been eliminated entirely from the area. It had occurred most notably along the highway but had begun to spread into the Forest. Removal exercises were carried out over several years and to date there have been no new observations.

In Tsavo East, the team has so far been carrying out similar exercises to remove the even more invasive Opuntia stricta, or prickly pear cactus, which now occurs throughout the Southern Sector of Tsavo East from the Voi River down to Bachuma and even north of the Voi River in a few areas. Initially efforts were focused on mechanical removal around the Voi Headquarters, ripping out plants by hand and leaving them on top of corrugated iron sheets to dry; however, as of 2019, with the appropriate permissions from the KWS, the Trust has embarked on a massive effort to deploy a biological agent to control the cactus more efficiently and effectively.

There is a cochineal (insect) that feeds exclusively on Opuntia cacti and favours the species of Opuntia occurring in Tsavo. With little effort this cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae, can be rapidly bred in a greenhouse environment before being deployed by small teams to thousands of locations in the Park from where the cochineal will spread naturally and consume the cacti to the point of death. This form of control has been used successfully in other parts of the world that have suffered similar infestations of Opuntia, and apart from being more effective than mechanical removal, due to the cacti’s ability to regenerate from next-to-nothing, it is a much more cost-effective method of control.

To achieve the greatest outcome, the Trust has invested in an 8 x 15m greenhouse which will be installed near the epicenter of the Opuntia’s spread at Bachuma. The cochineal will be bred on harvested opuntia cladodes (leaves) in plastic crates, which can be easily transferred into the bed of a pickup and transported to each of the dispersal sites. The team will place one infected cladode at the base of several plants at each site and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

cochineal will reproduce and spread naturally from there, eventually killing the plant and those around it. The team will return to the greenhouse with fresh cladodes, which will in turn be infected in the greenhouse. The use of the greenhouse allows for the cochineal to be bred in ideal, hot and dry conditions so that when deployed, the cochineal will have the greatest chance of infecting its host. A special thanks must go out to Tom Sylvester from Loisaba Conservancy who provided the original cochineals and has provided much-needed advice and expertise. A KWS researcher will be seconded to the project to carry out careful monitoring, ensuring both a correct implementation as well as tracking the project’s success.

KWS has asked the SWT to roll out this project into a larger, more general invasive species management team so that other species can also be dealt with; notably, Prosopis juliflora, which has also spread into Tsavo East via the Voi River and now occurs several kilometres into the Park. We will draw on past successes in Kibwezi Forest to address the P. juliflora invasion in Tsavo East, and hopefully, by partnering with KWS and local women’s groups, create opportunities for community members to benefit from an eco-charcoal program as a means to improve livelihoods, while also subsidizing the cost of removal. Providing an environmentally responsible alternative to what is generally a terribly destructive industry is another driving motivation. Huge amounts of Kenya’s indigenous forest are lost every year to unsustainable charcoal production, with slow growing hardwood trees being particularly vulnerable. Due to sensitivities of working in a protected area, it is unlikely that a charcoal program will be carried out within the boundaries of the Park; however, an important aspect of the project’s success will hinge on also eradicating the tree/shrub where it occurs in Voi town and along the Voi River upstream from the Park boundary. If we do not address the tree here, removing it from the Park will be pointless, since it would inevitably spread back into the Park as P. juliflora is a prolific seeder.

HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT MITIGATION To help mitigate human-wildlife conflict and in support of capture and translocation operations in Kenya, the SWT donated a Mitsubishi 10-wheeler truck to the KWS Capture Unit based in Nairobi in 2018, as their older 72

truck was no longer in working condition. The KWS still have use of the crane from the old tractor head, which the SWT refitted to the new Mitsubishi, as well as a second flatbed truck and customised trailers and crates which are still in reasonable condition. With this support, the KWS Capture & Translocation Unit has been back in operation, translocating elephants in Laikipia and Tsavo. Whilst the Trust has been supporting this project, it has also been in the process of developing its own capacity with a similar unit set up, which will be based at Kaluku and will be operational in 2020.

This new unit will consist of a Mercedes Benz 6x6 Truck Chassis including a crane and winch, as well as a Mercedes Benz 6x6 tractor head to drive a low loader, which have since been successfully imported from Germany. Both vehicles together will be used to transport recumbent elephants from human-elephant conflict situations to the safety of the Parks and protected areas within the TCA and the greater ecosystem. Importation procedures have taken time but during this period the SWT has also been in the process of customising the specialist trailers and crates needed to load and transport the elephants, which will work together with the two trucks. These trailers are being built in South Africa by a company specialised in the movement of elephants. The SWT is in the process of transporting the trailers and crates to Nairobi and is looking forward to rolling out this new unit.

73

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

Rhino Conservation MERU NATIONAL PARK RHINO SANCTUARY

The SWT supported KWS to rehabilitate and expand the rhino sanctuary in Meru National Park from 48 Km² to 83.5 Km². This fence expansion, which was successfully completed in March 2018, was undertaken to sustainably accommodate the steadily growing resident population of 104 rhinos (32 black rhinos and 72 white rhinos) reported

by KWS at the end of 2017. The Trust has also committed resources to the on-going monitoring and maintenance of the Sanctuary’s new fence in order to further support the rhino program. Together with the fenceline a vehicle was purchased specifically for fence maintenance throughout the Sanctuary, ensuring that teams can efficiently secure the entire circumference.

During 2019 the SWT constructed a third rhino security base located at another entrance gate along the rhino base.

This gate house is to accommodate the security rangers protecting the Sanctuary and has been modelled on the previous two already built by SWT when the new fence was first constructed.

To provide yet further security for the Sanctuary and its resident rhino population, the Trust has donated camping equipment and solar power units for 20 KWS mobile security camps. These include, mess tents, sleeping tents, metal camp chairs, tables and bedrolls with mattresses. These satellite camps can accommodate three rangers per camp and ensure that KWS can further increase and maintain security patrols throughout the Sanctuary providing the protection required.

75

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

Community Outreach INSPIRING KENYA’S NEXT GENERATION

During 2019 the SWT Community Outreach Team continued to support and share conservation knowledge, skills and passion with local communities in the Tsavo Conservation Area, targeting three counties in particular bordering Tsavo, including Kitui, Makueni and Taita Taveta, which are the areas most threatened by humanwildlife conflict.

help deter any negative mindsets against wildlife within these regions, the SWT teams work with communities communicating the benefits that wildlife can bring to the economy of the country through tourism and how vital it is to nurture a healthy ecosystem and maintain a balanced environment by protecting wildlife species and growing and nurturing more trees and forested areas.

Schools and communities within these regions face day to day challenges with wildlife, especially elephants, which can roam deep into community lands to forage.

Other wildlife species, like predators including lions and leopards, can similarly create riots within the communities whenever they cross borders and jump into livestock bomas for easy prey. Such occurrences are negatively viewed by most communities, which can be understood due to their loss of livelihood, and they can react with violent retaliation. The Community Outreach team works sensitively with KWS and communities during such incidents, preventing further conflict where possible by animal translocation or by sharing knowledge about proven methods of mitigating future predation. To

As part of the Community Outreach Program local school field trips are organised throughout the year to both Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks. These bus trips benefit 25 school children and five teachers, together with the SWT Community Leader and the Trust’s Bus Driver. Many children have never had the opportunity to really see and watch a wild animal from the safety of a vehicle, as most of their encounters are frightening as they are on foot in their local area. During the year the SWT conducted 81 school trips giving 1,979 students and 216 adults and teachers the opportunity to enjoy their natural heritage and learn more about the importance of protecting it. The Trust also continues to donate desks to schools bordering the Parks as well as sports gear and

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

76

especially footballs, which are always most appreciated. Playing sports in these remote communities goes beyond the joy of the game itself but also acts as a unifying tool, forming bonds between schools and communities who commit themselves to participate whenever local games are organised. For the younger members of the community, sports also play a significant role in their social and cultural practices. The Trust has also sponsored 21 local community children bordering the Tsavo National Parks and Chyulu Hills to attend further studies.

Over the years, the Trust has donated thousands of acacia and neem seedlings to local communities to help regenerate deforested areas whilst maintaining two successful tree nurseries. These species have a wide range of ecological functions including soil enrichment and erosion control whilst the acacia species is one of the best trees for bees; sadly, the acacia is widely logged for charcoal burning in the TCA, yet with ongoing security and surveillance operations curbing the illegal charcoal trade, such activities are on the decline, especially in Tsavo East. To further increase forest cover in the bordering communities and to engage community members in reforestation activities, the Trust, in partnership with the REDD+Project, initiated a tree planting competition in 2018 including four schools bordering the Chyulu Hills National Park. The school children were issued with seedlings as well as seedballs and were briefed on how to plant the seeds correctly whilst they were given instructions on how to care for them. Since the start of the competition the teams have witnessed some great results this year, especially after the rains during 2019, which saw many of the seedlings grow substantially. The competition will be judged later in the year, evaluating different schools’ success rates of trees planted.

SWT beehives and fencelines have been erected in five villages affected by elephants entering their lands from the Park. Bee farmers have happily reported that the fence has kept wandering elephants from eating their crops during the rainy seasons. Yet, beekeeping is becoming an increasing challenge as diminishing vegetation cover due to land cultivation, charcoal burning, and human settlement continues to result in a greater loss of flora for the bees, although after prolonged periods of rainfall the teams are confident the ecosystems will replenish themselves. The Community Outreach team continues to oversee the progress of the hives by conducting monthly inspections to ensure the hives are clean and free from pests to help facilitate more occupation. Despite struggles with loss of local flora the SWT’s Beehive Fence yielded more than 80kg of honeycombs in the past year, resulting in 51kg of sieved honey from 26 hives.

77

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

Tourism & Eco Lodges We are blessed to have many people visit the Nairobi Nursery. This is where some of the youngest orphans in our care heal from the trauma that befell them and find happiness once more among their new surrogate family. As pivotal a place as it is, the Nursery is but the first step in a much greater journey — and our Eco Lodges invite you to experience the rest of this journey firsthand.

We always knew that rescuing orphaned elephants would be fruitless if we didn’t consider the bigger picture; not only guiding them through their vulnerable early years, but also raising them to be wild elephants, so they could eventually return to and be accepted by their wild brethren. Of equal importance, then, was ensuring that they had a protected place in which they — and the generations that followed them — could thrive. That is where our three Reintegration Units and field conservation projects go hand-in-hand. At Reintegration Units, orphans learn the ways of wild elephants until they are ready to rejoin their ranks and, in time, start their own families. Our field projects, meanwhile, protect these key habitats and the creatures that call them home. This, to us, is the ultimate journey that we promise to every orphan who comes into our care We built our Eco Lodges with a singular goal; to allow supporters to play a unique role in this journey, exploring and simultaneously supporting Kenya’s most remarkable habitats and meeting the elephants who live there. Operated as a not-for-profit model, our Eco Lodges combine a once-in-a-lifetime safari with sustainable tourism. All proceeds are reinvested into our field projects that protect the Tsavo Conservation Area, so by staying in our Eco Lodges, guests help us invest in solutions that will further conservation in Kenya for years to come.

Each of our Eco Lodges is as different as the next, built in harmony with the unique wilderness in which it sits. Each is built within close proximity to one of our three Reintegration Units, and guests are granted special visiting privileges to visit the orphaned elephants there. There are three in Ithumba, the northern area of Tsavo East National Park that David Sheldrick deemed a “jewel in the crown”; two on the Galana River, a nexus for Kenya’s most iconic species; and one in the Kibwezi Forest, a lush groundwater forest set amidst rolling hills.

81

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

ITHUMBA CAMP, ITHUMBA HILL CAMP, & ITHUMBA PRIVATE Ithumba invites you to meet generations of elephants and sleep beneath the endless sky. Sitting in the northern sector of Tsavo, this is one of Kenya’s hidden gems and a world away from civilization. More than 34 orphans currently live at our Ithumba Reintegration Unit, with a further 70 now living wild. It is always a popular destination for visiting wild elephants, and it’s common for massive bulls, ex-orphans, and their babies to stop by.

GALDESSA CAMP OR GALDESSA LITTLE Visit Galdessa Camp or Galdessa Little and take a game drive to our Voi Reintegration Unit, where David and Daphne raised their first orphaned elephants during the 30 years they lived in Tsavo. These exquisite camps, nestled on the banks of the Galana River, offer a front row seat to watch Kenya’s wild world unfold; at any given moment, you might see hippos wallowing in the mud, crocodiles soaking up the sun’s rays, or elephants strolling across the white sandy beaches.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

82

UMANI SPRINGS Visit Umani Springs, explore a unique groundwater forest and get to know some of our most remarkable rescued elephants. Tucked beneath the trees of the ancient Kibwezi Forest, this classic African lodge offers a luxurious getaway within a pristine wilderness. Here, you can meet the members of our Umani Springs Reintegration Unit, extraordinary creatures who have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to not only survive, but thrive.

To stay in one Eco Lodge is to experience a jewel amongst Kenya’s wild places; to stay in them all is to discover the entire crown. There’s a reason we chose Tsavo and the Kibwezi Forest as the destinations where our orphaned elephants graduate to live in the wild. In an increasingly developed world, they remain two truly natural and fully protected sanctuaries. Nothing gives us greater joy than sharing these special places with the people who make our work possible. By staying in our Eco Lodges, you not only experience the journey that our orphans take, but you actively support it — for them, and for all the elephants who will follow in their footsteps.

Lodge Enquiries and reservations: info@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

83

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

AFRICA’S ELEPHANTS IN 2019

The status of elephants remains precarious, particularly due to mankind’s conflicted relationship with the species. 2019 was a tumultuous year for the species, with noteworthy highs and lamentable lows. On one hand, there has been promising progress; an increased understanding of elephants — their intelligence and compassion, the key role they play in shaping ecosystems, and their economic value by attracting tourists to see and photograph them — has driven a widespread commitment to protect the species. In line with the global shift towards the closure of domestic ivory markets, several more ivory bans came to fruition this year. On the other hand, pervasive issues continue to put the species’ future at risk; ivory poaching remains a problem, while habitat loss and the human-wildlife conflict that results from it has emerged as perhaps the gravest threat facing elephants. Legalized elephant hunting and the capture of wild baby elephants who were then sold into captivity dominated news headlines around the world.

The African savanna elephant population currently stands at between 400,000–415,000, an estimate based on the results of the 2016 Great Elephant Census, which surveyed elephant populations in 18 countries, and findings from other savanna areas in Africa. Kenya is now home to around 35,000 elephants — which marks a 119% increase from 30 years ago. Today, the country is a stronghold for the species, but it was hard hit by the ivory poaching crisis in the 2010s. Measures like boots on the ground, laws that protect elephants, and strict penalties to deter perpetrators have proven very effective and, as a result, poaching incidents have decreased exponentially in recent years.

Unlike many African countries, elephant hunting has been illegal in Kenya since its outright ban in the 1970s. A task force was created in 2018 to examine the consumptive utilization of wildlife, but little was reported on their activities. We remain vigilant on this front for any future developments.

Despite the progress made, elephants remain a vulnerable species in Kenya. Human-wildlife conflict looms large on the horizon, and despite the the global recognition of the issue, habitat loss and fragmentation continue at alarming rates. While humans commandeer more and more land for agriculture, housing, factories, and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

transport infrastructure, elephants find their ancient migration routes interrupted and no longer have access to wilderness that has been theirs for millennia. As a result, they are coming into increasing contact with humans: In 2019 alone, the SWT help guide more than 400 elephants off community land and back into the safety of protected areas. While there is no quick fix, there are several tried and tested measures that effectively secure space and limit negative contact between humans and animals. These include partnerships with local landowners, electric fencelines on high-risk boundaries, educational programs in communities living with wildlife, and reforestation projects, and more. Individually, these activities help — but collectively, they can have a marked positive impact on the welfare of both people and wildlife.

The urgent need to address human-wildlife conflict was highlighted in May, when Botswana announced its plans to lift its five year suspension of elephant hunting, citing the negative impact its increased elephant population was having on its citizens’ livelihoods. The country joins its Southern African neighbours Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa, as well as Tanzania and Cameroon, in allowing elephant hunting. The announcement led to an outcry among conservationists, and rightfully so. Botswana is home to the world’s largest African savanna elephant population and, in 2014, banned big game hunting. The country’s elephant population benefited as a result of this, growing to an estimated 130,000 individuals, as did its photographic safari tourism sector, with travel and tourism accounting for the second largest revenue generator to Botswana’s economy. Unfortunately, it appears their government has decided that its elephants are worth more dead than alive and, in reversing the ban, elephants and lions (species in global decline) can now be hunted.

Decisions that adversely affect our fragile planet and the species who call it home have become a hot political issue. This was particularly evident at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) Conference of the Parties, which took place in August 2019. CITES is an international treaty to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international trade, and when they meet every four years, discussions revolve around how wildlife is listed and what trade is allowed. Inclusion of a 86

species on Appendix I (such as elephants in Kenya) prohibits any trade in specimens of that species, although there are some exemptions, whereas Appendix II lists species where trade is authorised but controlled (such as elephants in Zimbabwe).

Key takeaways from CITES include: A near-total ban on live elephant exports to captive facilities, with limited exceptions. This prevents young elephants from being snatched from the wild and sold overseas, where they live out their lives in captivity in zoos or safari park.

Both the United States and China have been guilty of this in recent years. In fact, according to the Humane Society International, Zimbabwe has exported 108 young elephants to zoos in China since 2012. The SWT and others rallied supporters to push for this ban, and it came into effect in November 2019, although not before Zimbabwe managed to ship over 30 more elephants to China.

Elephants remain classified under Appendix II in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, after efforts by a bloc of nations, including Kenya, to ban all trade in elephants in these countries and assign elephants the highest form of protection available to CITES (Appendix I) were vetoed.

High on the agenda was a proposal to allow the sale of stockpiled ivory. Submitted by Botswana, it sought to allow more legal sales of ivory, which conservationists feared would increase demand and re-open the floodgates of poaching. The proposal was widely rejected by delegates, and by the SWT and other NGOs, and the existing international ban on ivory sales remains in place. This prevents any repeat of previous ‘one-off sales,’ which spurred a poaching crisis that wiped out 30% of Africa’s elephants in just seven years.

National legislation that bans domestic ivory sales continues to be implemented around the world. Stringent bans on the trade in ivory remains in force in China, the USA, France, Belgium (as of 2019), Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

The UK has lagged on the issue of ivory trade, but in December 2018 and following overwhelming support from the public, it finally signed into law one of the world’s toughest bans on ivory sales. The total ban outlawed trade in items containing elephant ivory within the UK, regardless of their antiquity, and introduced new penalties for those found guilty of breaching the ban. It did, however, allow a narrow set of exemptions and conservationists were left waiting on tenterhooks as a group of antiques dealers and collectors sought to block its implementation in 2019. With an appeal set to commence in February 2020, the future of the ivory trade in the UK remains uncertain.

In the EU, efforts to enact an ivory ban remain in progress. Stakeholder consultations continued throughout 2019, but the ban is still in the proposal stages. Within the EU, worked ivory obtained prior to 1947 can be traded freely; while ivory obtained after 1947, but before 1990, can be sold with a government certificate. Selling ivory obtained after the global ivory trade was banned, however, is illegal. Critics have widely denounced a legal trade in ivory, stating that it covers up the illegal trade. This denunciation is supported by data: In 2018, an investigation found that threequarters of all ivory sold legally in Europe is in fact illicit.

Law agencies continued to report seizures of illegal ivory throughout 2019, including the largest ever seizure in recorded history: In March, Vietnamese authorities discovered nine tonnes of ivory in a shipment from the Republic of Congo, representing over 1,000 dead elephants. Just five days later, Chinese customs seized over seven tonnes in Guangdong. In July, nine tonnes of tusks were seized in Singapore, en-route from the Republic of Congo and destined for Vietnam, further suggesting that Vietnam has become a locus for illegal ivory trafficking. These large scale seizures indicate that transnational criminal groups are highly involved in trafficking ivory; indeed, research by the Environmental Investigation Agency found that 175 large scale ivory seizures (500kg or more) took place globally 87

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

between 2000 and March 2019. It is important that these seizures are likely just the tip of the iceberg, representing only a fraction of all the ivory that is likely trafficked around the world. As continued ivory seizures demonstrate, global bans and legislation are only impactful when they are enforced.

While policy certainly has an important role to play, it is simply not enough to protect elephants. In many countries, including elephant range states and hotspots in the wildlife trade, much more can be done. Stringent measures must be put into place to improve the enforcement of existing regulations and fight wildlife crime at all levels — from better detection and control at border points, to focused training for prosecutors and judges who specialize in environmental crime.

While large scale, systemic changes are critical; equally important are on-site initiatives that serve to protect wildlife.

We see this every day in Kenya, where our presence in the field and persistent efforts to preserve habitats continues to make a marked difference. In a three year period, SWT/KWS Aerial Surveillance and Anti-Poaching Units contributed to a 50% decline in poaching in Tsavo, Kenya’s largest National Park, while our Saving Habitats program to date has secured over 330,000 acres of wilderness. These dedicated on-the-ground efforts, in concert with global policies that support conservation, are our best hope to ensure future generations know a world inhabited by elephants.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

88

SPECIAL THANKS

TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS Acton Family Giving Andrew B Young Foundation Autonomous Research Charitable Trust Bernard and Nancy Karwick Foundation Blackman Family Foundation Care for the Wild Germany Children of Conservation Dahan Family Foundation Defend the Elephants Sweden FM Area Foundation Fredman Family Foundation Hazard Family Charitable Fund Ian Mactaggart Trust Jeffrey and Mary Smith Family Foundation Jonathan Logan Family Foundation Judith Anne Kaplan Fund Kaufman Family Foundation Kerrigan Savage Waves Charitable Trust Lemmon Foundation Marjorie and John Buyers Foundation Marta Heflin Foundation Medway Charitable Trust Mey Share Foundation Minara Foundation Mitchell Family Charitable Fund MKM Foundation Norman Foundation Overlook Estate Foundation Pearson Family Foundation ProWIN Rathmann Family Foundation Real World Conservation Trust Red Butterfly Foundation Riester Conservation Foundation Robert Csargo Trust Scott (Eredine) Charitable Trust Serengeti Foundation Sophie and Arthur Brody Foundation Tayside Cat Shelter The Annenberg Foundation

The Bently Foundation The Burton Foundation The Eden Trust The Eos Foundation Trust The Hyman Levine Family Foundation The Joseph and Fiora Stone Foundation The Kidogo Foundation The Merlin Foundation The New York Community Trust The Ohrstrom Foundation The Parker Foundation The Perfect World Foundation The Wagmore Foundation The William J.J. Gordon Family Foundation VBS Foundation

CORPORATE Adidas Running Air France KLM Angama Anna Beck Designs Barrett & Coe Boscovic Air Charters Chantecaille Elephant Gin Ikaika Sports Love Brand & Co MegaLounge Metage Capital MMA Events/Design Foundry Moyophotogrpahy OMD USA Parca PopSockets Tauk The & Partnership The True Traveller Velvet Coffee Roasters WhiteGREY Williamson Tea

89

NGO PARTNERS Aktionsgemeinschaft Artenschutz (AGA) Foreningen Forsvara Elefanterna Four Paws Pengo Life Project Rettet die Elephanten Sauvez les elephants d’afrique Terre et Faune Verein Der Elefantenfreunde Vrienden van de Olifant KENYA PARTNERS Big Life Foundation Kenya Forest Service Kenya Wildlife Service Lamu Conservation Trust Mara Conservancy Mara Elephant Project Mount Kenya Trust Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary Wildlife Works

INDIVIDUALS / GROUPS Alexandra and Joshua Anzalone/Rosenthal Amanda Loke Anne Pattee C.H. Lin Carol Greenstone Cheetah For Ever Craig and Cynthia Rosen Darylan Stratten David and Denise Chase David and Tara Dollinger Debora Goebel Diane D’arcy Diane Davidson Elisabeth and Claude Koeberle Elizabeth Kreider

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

SPECIAL THANKS

Elizabeth Steele Ellen DeGeneres Emily & Euan Lamb Eric Henderson Erika Rosenthal Evan Greenberg Francisco Grimaldi Georgianna Harris Gerald Meyer Gillie & Marc (Schattner) Gregory Allgrim Greta Smith Guy Hilton Heidi and Kevin Naughton Heidi Blackie Hollis Stern James W. Morris Estate Jean Moye Jeffrey Dennis Miller Jerry and Iris Silver Jim and Cindy Kohlenberger Jo Ann Hoffman John and Jutta Kay John and Kathy Burke John Garand Jon Steel Jonathan Connolly Joseph and Patricia Culver Joyce Kantoff Estate Judie Graham-Bell Judith Ochs Kate Upton Katie Meyer Kevin and Jackie Magid Kids’ Tusk Force UK Kimi Cunningham Estate Kristin Davis Laurence Heilbronn Lila Luce Linda Jackson and Kevin Deierling Linda Rodgers Lisa Mihan

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

Lisa Nardi and Victor Girgenti Lori Price Louise Mulgrew Margaret Williams Margareta and Staffan Encrantz Mark & Jacqui Atkinson Martha Raynolds Martin & Gillian Evans Michael and KT Foust Nadine Stearns Estate NS Ramjee Olivier and Sylvie Chantecaille Pamela Hayden Pamela Vawter Estate Parris McBride-Martin Patrick and Priscilla MeLampy-Lawrence Rebecca Castro Rebecca Seltzer Robert Edwards Robert Stearns Roberta Moody Roger and Ann McNamee Sabrina Bryant Samuel Freeman Scott and Linda Greene Shannon Miller Stanley Johnson Stephanie Perenchio Stephen Charles Stephen Gorevan and Sarah Leaman Steven and Kathleen Shubin Sue and Brian Kelly The Dharmaraj Family The Late Richard Geoffrey Mathison Jones The Late Timothy Ferguson Brooks The Late Victoria Anne Whiteman The Riedlinger Family Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins Tom and Cathy Staver Tyler and Hayley Hubbard Yashar Ali Zac Goldsmith

90

Online donations can be made directly through the website

WWW.SHELDRICKWILDLIFETRUST.ORG The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a Charity registered in Kenya.

For donations to the Trust please make cheques out to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

KENYA

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust P.O.Box 15555 Mbagathi, 00503 Nairobi, Kenya Email: info@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org Telephone : +254 (0) 202 301 396 +254 (0) 733 891 996

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a charity registered in the U.K. Charity No 1103836.

Donations to the Trust by U.K. taxpayers can be gift aided.

UK Sheldrick Wildlife Trust 2nd Floor 3 Bridge Street Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8BL Email: infouk@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org Telephone: +44 (0) 1372 378 321

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA has been recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt ‘Public Charity’ to which contributions, gifts and bequests are deductible for U.S. income, gift and estate taxes. Checks can be made out to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

USA Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA 25283 Cabot Road, Suite 101 Laguna Hills CA, 92653 Email: infous@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org Telephone: +1 (949) 305-3785

91

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust_Newsletter 2019

SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST P. O. Box 15555 Mbagathi, Nairobi, 00503 Kenya Tel: +254 (0) 733 891 996, +254 (0) 20 230 1396 Email: info@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org Website: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org