Participants:

Nicodemus Kivindyo – team leader Samuel Odero Peter Wambua John Malonza Rajab Fundi Samuel Masaku

Area of operation:

During the month of February, the Burra team covered the following areas: Kishushe ranch and the Maktau area (Tsavo West), Kasigau ranch, Ngutuni ranch, Sagala ranch and Lualenyi ranch.

205 SNARES RECOVERED

1 ARREST

FINDINGS.

During the month of February the team lifted a total of 205 snares, 48 of which targeted large game and 157 targeting small game.

The team managed to arrest a poacher at Kishushe ranch who was in possession of one and half kilos of bush meat from Dikdiks. The team also found a dead snared Dikdik at Ngutuni ranch and the carcasses of a young giraffe and an Impala both of which had also been killed by snares.

Observable evidence:

Generally the vegetation in all the areas patrolled has started to dry which means that the animals are feeding selectively and are converging at water holes where the vegetation is greener. Poachers are taking advantage of the conditions by setting snares along routes to the water holes and other marsh areas thus increasing their chances of trapping and killing animals in the snares.

Kishushe Ranch and Maktau area These two areas did not get a single drop of rain during the rainy season which has caused the communities around these areas to suffer as they were not able to farm and harvest any crops. For this reason many of the community members have turned to poaching. Evidence of this is the 115 snares that were lifted in these areas in the period of one week.

The carcasses of a snared Giraffe and Impala and the arrest of a poacher are also evidence of the amount of snaring taking place in both areas.

Kasigau Ranch With the help of the former community wildlife scouts the team lifted 43 snares, 3 of which targeted large game and the rest targeting small game.

The ranch is also experiencing environmental degradation caused by the charcoal burning and the destruction of vegetation.

Ngutuni Ranch The team lifted a total of 42 snares during its patrols in this area. 2 of the snares targeted large game and the rest targeted small game. The team also found a dead snared Dikdik.

Charcoal burning is another illegal activity that was cited and was found to be taking place near to the areas were the snares were lifted which indicates that the charcoal burners are the ones who are setting the snares.

Sagala Ranch A total of 6 snares were lifted all of which targeted large game.

There was no evidence any other illegal activities and there was also no evidence of the destruction of vegetation. Lualenyi Ranch Following the arrest of a poacher last month the tam learned that the majority of the snares found in this are were lifted by the ranch owners. For this reason the team lifted only one snare which targeted large game.

Community work The team organized two ecological trips to Tsavo East and Tsavo West.

Mbulia Primary school was treated to a trip to Tsavo East on the 5th of February and Kishushe Primary school was treated to a trip to Tsavo West by the Ziwani team. The students visited Mzima Springs, Shetani lava and the Shetani caves. Alot of wildlife was seen including zebras, Impalas and Hippos.

The Burra desnaring team also donated 40 desks to Sowa Primary school. The school and the students appreciated the desks and were thrilled to receive them and are ready to start using them.

Report by Nicodemus Kivindyo