Tsavo Trust | BIG TUSKER MONTHLY | May 2016

MONTHLY REPORT: MAY 2016 Summary: Activity Aerial Reconnaissance

Miles Covered 5,033 (22,010 miles for year to date)

Average 75 mph of low level flight

Flights carried out jointly with KWS staff

No. Observed 19 Tuskers - 14 bulls (8 Super Tuskers & 6 emerging Tuskers) & 5 cows No. Recovered 5 tusks (21 for year to date) No. Observed Fresh Recent 2 (1 Poached, 1 unconfirmed c of d) 2 (both natural c of d)

Large “Tuskers” Ivory recovered Elephant carcasses Poachers camps & hides/blinds/platforms Carcasses/hours flown Arrests Snares recovered Response/support to KWS - armed incidents Other Illegal activities General important/relevant notes

Hours Flown 67 (294 hrs for year to date)

2

1 1 every 17 hours of flight

Made by KWS with operational backup from TT – 15 204 (by Kamungi Scouts)

men (livestock)

1 20 cattle bomas (est. 42,000 shoats & 27,040 cows & 180 people seen) • 21/5/16 – Kamungi Scouts deployed to field with vehicle and recovered 165 snares on first day of operations in a buffer area to boundary of TENP • 2/5/16 – 42 different Hirola observed in TENP • Aerial support pertaining to rhino security in TW & TE • Continued partnership with KWS & ZSL re rhino programs in TCA • Continued predator and endangered species sighting reports to KWS, TCA

Photo shows ivory found from a joint KWS/TT aerial recce flight on 21st May 2016 in TENP from an elephant having died recently of natural causes. Both tusks later recovered

by KWS/TT ground unit.

TSAVO TRUST • PO Box 204 • Mtito Andei 90128 • Kenya

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Big Tusker Project - aerial and ground teams (Tembo 2): The Tsavo Trust’s Big Tusker Project (BTP) recorded the following details in the BTP database: • Total of 18 different individual Tusker’s were observed from ground and air coverage • 8 bull Super Tuskers – 49 different sightings • 5 emerging Tuskers – 15 sightings • 5 iconic cow Tuskers – 10 sightings • Total sightings - 74 • Rhino security: Ongoing partnership between KWS, Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Tsavo Trust regarding rhino areas within the TCA. 3 specific rhino recce flights took placecovering parts of TENP IPZ, TWNP NRS & IPZ. Table shows “Tusker” code, number of times observed during month and brief remarks.

Tusker No. Times Seen Remarks Code Name During Month BULLS MO1 1 Gone on walk about again and in insecure location outside Park LU1 5 Moved back to wet season grazing area. Crosses SGR regularly SA2 11 Moved back to normal location and in Musth KA1 2 Moved with the rains to an area not seen before KA2 2 Back to his regular location DI1 15 Back to his normal area WS1 11 Back to his normal area BA1 2 Back in normal location but close to illegally grazing Orma cattle SA80 7 Back to normal location EM1 1 Moved big distances AR1 5 Moved to insecure area outside of Park KM2 2 Back to normal area KI1 1 Has not stayed in normal location for long and moved with rains COWS F_XT 3 Settled in normal location F_VPL 4 Back to her normal area F_KA1 1 Back to her normal area F_MU1 1 Back to her normal area F_DI1 1 Has moved big distances TOTAL 13 bulls, 5 cows: 74 different sightings Close working relationship between KWS and Tsavo Trust (aerial and ground units combined) is without doubt adding to elephant security and safety of the big Tuskers and other elephants within the TCA through meaningful collaboration alongside KWS Security and Research & Monitoring Departments.

Photo shows iconic Tusker coded as BA1 giving chase to a younger bull in TENP.

TSAVO TRUST • PO Box 204 • Mtito Andei 90128 • Kenya

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Areas Covered: Table below shows the main areas covered within the TCA for this month: TSAVO EAST NP

TSAVO WEST NP

Northern Area – Yatta Plateau, Durusikale, Northern Sector – IPZ, Garasamuke, Emusaya, Golf Charlie, Koitu, Sobo, Sangayaya, Dabaduke, Mufupa ya Ndovu, Ithumba, Umbi Hill, Tumbili, Kone, Ndiandaza, Bisadi, Roka, Wamata, Masobo, Jimetunda, Tiva River, N. boundary TENP Southern Area – Voi, Ndololo, Kanderi, Wagalla, Ndara Plains, Buchuma, Maungu, Murondo, Dakota, Voi River, Dika Plains, Satao, power lines, Aruba, Mukuaju, Dika, Konu Moja, Dida Harea, Balguda, Sala, Lali, Sobo, TENP boundary, Koitu, Galana River Central Area – TE R/S, IPZ, Manyani east, Punda Milia, Hatulo Bisani, Lugards, Mbololo lugga, Balguda, Irima, Mudanda, Maka Hill, Man-eaters, Triangle, Mtito Lugga, Zero Delta, Voi north & east, Galana River, Tsavo River and Yatta Central, SGR

Mangalete, Kamboyo, Kisimeka, Chyulu south, Mtito lugga, Mungai Hill, Finch Hattons, Mzima Springs, Shetani volcano, Severin, Kilaguni, Ndawe, Tsavo River, Kishushe Southern Sector – Kishushe Central Sector – IPZ, Rhino Valley, NRS, Tsavo River, Kinyek, Maji ya Chumvi (north & south), Ziwani, Lesoito, Kyulu, Mombasa Highway, Man Easters, Kenani, Kanga, Manyani north and west, SGR line

RANCHES & DISPERSAL AREAS TENP border – Ngiluni/Kamunyu, Kilalinda, Kulalu & Galana Ranch, Derea, Murondo, Magram/Dakota Ranch, Lali Hills, Ngutuni TWNP border – Rombo, Il Talal

Chyulu Hills NP – Il Talal

Taita Ranches – Nil

• The locations mentioned above is only an indicator of flight paths taken, many other areas in between are also covered and in so doing providing “eyes in the skies” over Tsavo and directional guidance to ground units.

• All flight paths are logged and recorded with all relevant real time observations relayed to KWS on a daily basis for their records as well as necessary rapid reaction.

This map shows flight paths for May 2016 where 67 hours were flown in support to KWS for antipoaching and wildlife monitoring across 5,033 miles over Tsavo.

TSAVO TRUST • PO Box 204 • Mtito Andei 90128 • Kenya

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Kamungi Conservancy: Kamungi Scouts – Operationally deployment took place on 22nd May 2016 following introductions to Senior KWS Officers at TWNP HQ on 21st May as well as receiving a second hand, but re built 4 x 4 Toyota Land Cruiser for transport. Since deployment the 12 man team, led

by James Simiti has recovered 204 wire snares (165 snares on the first day). Poacher arrests are not far off now with this momentum.

Photo below shows 6 of the Kamungi Scouts with freshly recovered snares (165) set for medium and small game along the eastern boundary of TENP along a section of the Athi River.

Endangered species/Predator Monitoring – support to KWS/TCA Research Departments Predators Observed from the air and Tembo 2 ground unit: Date

Lion

Leopard

Cheetah

Wild Dog

Serval

Others/Remarks

-

-

-

-

TENP TWNP & 1 Honey Badger TENP TENP TENP TENP

-

-

-

-

TENP TENP

11/5/16 21/5/16 25/5/16 27/5/16 28/5/16 30/5/16 31/5/16

2 6 3 (F) 1 (F) 5 (1M, 4F) 10 (3F, 7 cubs 1M 5 6 (2F, 4 big cubs) 8 4 (2M, 2F) 8 9 3 3

1 1 -

-

-

-

TENP TENP TWNP TENP TENP TENP TENP

Totals

74

2

Nil

Nil

Nil

1/5/16 2/5/16 4/5/16 6/5/16 7/5/16 9/5/16 10/5/16

TSAVO TRUST • PO Box 204 • Mtito Andei 90128 • Kenya

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Critically Endangered Species Observed from air and Tembo 2 (not incl. rhino or wild dog): Date 2/5/16 5/5/16 7/5/16 12/5/16 21/5/16 22/4/16 23/5/16 24/5/16 25/5/16

Totals sightings

Hirola

Grevy’s Zebra

1, 9, 20, 12 1 2, 12, 14 6 5&1 12 & 21 1 7&8

3&9 -

71

14

Others/Remarks TENP, Satao TENP, KMC Bachuma TENP, Satao TENP, Satao TENP, Satao TENP, Satao TENP, Satao TENP, Satao TENP, Satao

Unusual Photo of the Month: This photo, taken in the northern part of TENP on 26th May 2016, clearly shows a freshly used poachers shooting blind tucked into the green bush that strategically overlooks a water hole.

From here poachers using poisoned arrows can easily pick off their quarry in total silence under the cover of darkness. Tsavo Trust, alongside KWS and other partners works very hard to locate and destroy such illegal activities within the Protected Area of Tsavo.

With thanks and appreciation to Kenya Wildlife Service, Save The Elephants/Wildlife Conservation Network Elephant Crisis Fund (ECF), Stuart Herd, Nick Southgate, James Robertson, Tusk Trust UK & USA, The Woodtiger Fund, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Zoological Society of London, Ndovu Trust (UK), US State Dept., Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Wines of the World Ltd, Africa Spirits Ltd, Mike Kirkland/Torben Rune, Satao Camp (Tsavo East) & Southern Cross Safaris (Msa), Salama Fikira, Ian Craig, The Art of BAS & Oak Furniture Ltd (UK), Geri Bauer, Kathy Snowden, Murray Grant, Simon Herd, Saving the Survivors, Karen Laurence-Rowe, OnSafari Kenya Ltd, Anadarko Kenya Co., Askari Project – Australia, Chris Acreman, Paul & James Wilson, Michael Cheffings, Pembroke House School and numerous other individual supporters.

Report compiled by Richard Moller – Chief Executive Officer, Tsavo Trust All photographs ©Richard Moller / Tsavo Trust 2016

TSAVO TRUST • PO Box 204 • Mtito Andei 90128 • Kenya

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