Participants

Alex Macharia – team leader Francis Chege Semeli Lolchuraki Nteritu Kapina James Nuymu Vincent Mutua 4KWS Rangers

Areas Covered

During the course of the month of November the following areas were patrolled by the Mtito de-snaring team: Mangelete, Kaluku, the Tsavo Triangle, Tsavo River, Kyulu gate, Kenani, and Kanga.

34 SNARES COLLECTED

Findings

The heavy rains have already started in these areas and therefore we expected a decline in snaring levels, this was however not the case in some areas such as those bordering the park. A number of large snares were lifted in the Mangelete areas. We attributed theses snares to the fact that the notorious poacher named Gathuki, who was once employed by The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, operates in the Mangelete areas. There were signs of night poaching taking place, especially in the Kyusiani area. Foot prints were tracked from Kyusiani down to the triangle where we found a poachers platform with old radio batteries.

Kenani continues to show signs of human disturbances with both logging and poaching taking place.

We feel that unless more KWS rangers are placed in the triangle poaching will continue especially as the area has a poor road network, making it difficult to patrol the area. Unfortunately no arrests were made during the course of our desnaring activities.

Community awareness Ngiluni primary school and Iviani primary school were both visited this month. As it is the rainy season, both schools were given tree seedlings that could be planted during the course of the month.

Some school supplies were, such as books and colouring pens and pencils were donated to Ngiluni primary school by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Report by Alex Macharia