Tsavo Trust | BIG TUSKER MONTHLY | June 2016

MONTHLY REPORT: JUNE 2016 Summary: Activity Aerial Reconnaissance

Hours Flown 55 (349 hrs for year to date)

Miles Covered 4,215 (26,225 miles for year to date)

Average 76.5 mph of low level flight

Flights carried out jointly with KWS staff

No. Observed 15 Tuskers - 10 bulls (6 Super Tuskers & 4 emerging Tuskers) & 5 cows No. Recovered 2 tusks (23 for year to date) Fresh Recent

Large “Tuskers” Ivory recovered Elephant carcasses

5 (1 train hit, 2 Poached, 1 unconfirmed & 1 natural c of d)

Poachers camps & hides/blinds/platforms Carcasses/hours flown Arrests Snares/traps recovered Response/support to KWS - armed incidents Other Illegal activities General important/relevant notes

1

Nil 1

1 every 11 hours of flight 20 - Made by KWS with operational backup from TT – (livestock) 5 – Made by Kamungi Scouts/KWS – bushmeat poachers 303 (by Kamungi Scouts) 1 (2 for year to date) 26 cattle bomas (85,000 cows & 50+ people seen) • 5 bushmeat poachers arrested, 303 snares recvd. by Kamungi Scouts • 17/6/16 – Response to gunshots near TZ border, Jipe. 1 freshly poached ele.

• 18/6/16 - Aerial recce with KWS DDS to ascertain livestock numbers in TE & TW, total of 7 hours flown • 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 2 arrested bushmeat poachers on 26th June 2016, caught as they exited TENP by the Kamungi Scouts. They were caught in possession of 20 freshly poached Dikdiks and 1 impala.

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 15 different individual Tusker’s were observed from ground and air coverage • 6 bull Super Tuskers – 16 different sightings • 4 emerging Tuskers – 10 sightings • 5 iconic cow Tuskers – 9 sightings • New emerging bull Tusker coded as KO1 added to database. Although this elephant has been seen and photographed previously, positive ID marks are now clear • Total sightings - 35 ! Rhino security: Ongoing partnership between KWS, Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Tsavo Trust regarding rhino areas within the TCA. 4 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 LU1 2 Moved back to wet season grazing area. Crosses SGR regularly SA2 5 Moved back to normal location KA1 1 Moved with the rains to an area not seen before KA2 1 Back to his regular location DI1 5 Back to his normal area BA1 2 Back in normal location but close to illegally grazing Orma cattle BU1 3 Roams far and wide MA1 1 Moved big distances but back to normal location SL1 2 Found in original location KO1 4 Newly identified emerging Tusker 4/6/16, TE COWS F_XT 1 Back to her normal location F_VPL 2 Back to her normal area F_KA1 3 Back to her normal area F_MU1 2 Back to her normal area F_DI1 1 Has moved big distances TOTAL 10 bulls, 5 cows: 35 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 newly identified emerging Tusker coded KO1, 4th June 2016, TENP. Photo: Josh Outram

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,

RANCHES & DISPERSAL AREAS TENP border –

Garasamuke, Emusaya, Golf Charlie, Koitu, Sobo, Sangayaya, Dabaduke, Mufupa ya Ndovu, Ithumba, 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

Ngiluni/Kamunyu, Kilalinda, Kulalu & Galana Ranch, Derea, Murondo, Magram/Dakota Ranch, Lali Hills, Ngutuni TWNP border – Rombo, Il Talal, Lualenyi Chyulu Hills NP – Il Talal, Mukururo, east CHNP Taita Ranches – Taita, Kalonzo, Dawida, Rukinga, Kurandze, Nyando

Mangalete, Kamboyo, Kisimeka, Chyulu south, Mtito lugga, Mungai Hill, Finch Hattons, Mzima Springs, Shetani volcano, Severin, Kilaguni, Ndawe, Tsavo River Southern Sector – Kishushe, Lake Jipe, Toloa, TZ/TWNP boundary, Kanjaro, Moare, Murka, Maktau, Ziwani 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

• 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.

Map below shows flight paths for June 2016 where 55 hours were flown in support to KWS for anti-poaching and wildlife monitoring across 4,215 miles over the Tsavo’s.

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

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Kamungi Conservancy: Kamungi Scouts – A busy and successful month with 303 snares recovered having been set for small and medium game and 5 arrests. All those poachers arrested were booked at Mtito Andei Police Station through KWS TWNP HQ. A joint KWS/TT 4 day patrol was carried out along the Tsavo River resulting in the arrest of 1 man.

Kamungi Scouts have their own 4 x 4 support vehicle and have been received very well by KWS. Members of Kamungi Scouts showing recovered snares set for small and medium game, 3rd June 2016

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

2/6/16 5/6/16 8/6/16 9/6/16

3 3 (2M, 1F) 7 (3M, 4F)

1

3 -

-

-

11/6/16 12/6/16 13/6/16 14/6/16 22/6/16 24/6/16

4 (2M, 2F) 1 (F) 4 (F) 3 (F) 2 (F) 4 (3M, 1F)

-

3 -

-

-

Totals

31

1

6

Nil

Nil

Others/Remarks TENP TENP TENP Lion – TENP, Leopard - TWNP TENP TENP TENP TENP TENP TENP

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 3/6/16 12/6/16

Totals sightings

Hirola

Grevy’s Zebra

-

10 7

Nil

17

Others/Remarks TENP, KMC Bachuma TENP, KMC Bachuma

Unusual Photo of the Month: Photo below shows Kamungi Scouts releasing a livesnared Dikdik on 3rd June 2016. A further 97 snares were recovered the same day and 1 poacher with fresh Dikdik meat arrested along the eastern boundary of TENP along a section of the Athi River.

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), Tropical Ice Ltd, 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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