Participants:

Mathew Kiura – team leader Samuel Odero Peter Wambua John Malonza Peter Ndungu Samuel Masaku 2 KWS Rangers

Area of operation:

During the month of May, the Burra team covered the following areas: Ngutuni/Maungu, Ndara/Sagala Ranch, Mbulia ranch/Tsavo west, Ndii/Irima, and the Kajire area.

133 SNARES RECOVERED

FINDINGS.

During the months operations the team lifted a total of 133 snares twenty two targeting big game and 111 targeting small game.

The team also found a dead buffalo at Ngutuni although they were unable to establish the cause of death. However several snares targeting big game had been lifted in the same area. Illegal grazing and the destruction of vegetation inside the park was also evident. Snaring, charcoal burning and the destruction of vegetation was also evident in the community ranches.

Observable evidence.

The Burra de-snaring team made a number of observations during its patrols and operations.

The snaring of both small and large game is present in both the park and the community areas, with the majority of the small snares being lifted from the community areas. Illegal grazing and the destruction of vegetation was evident in areas that had adequate pasture and water.

Ngutuni / Maungu This area recorded the highest number of big game and small game snares. The team came across a dead buffalo but were unable to establish the cause of death.

At Maungu and Bachuma the team came across herds of cattle being grazed in the park. There is a lot of vegetation and soil degradation in these areas due to the continuous grazing of cattle. The team carried out frequent patrols in order to deter the herders from entering the park. The Burra de-snaring team also aided the vet in the treatment of a lion in the Ngutuni area.

Ndii / Irima The main problems observed in this area were illegal logging and the snaring of both small and large game. The team lifted 20 snares targeting small game. Illegal logging was observed in Ndii where a number of Acacia spp had been cut down.

The team intensified its operations in the area in an attempt to deter the loggers from entering the park. During one patrol the team came across a man who we was suspected of being a poacher as he was strolling along the park fence line and was in posession of several snares. Due to the lack of evidence the team was not able to arrest him.

Ndara and Sagala ranches The snaring of small game along with the destruction of vegetation and charcoal burning continue to be a problem in these ranches.

The main problem the de-snaring team has is that it is difficult to discover who the culprits are as the ranches are frequented by the locals for various reasons such as grazing, access to water points and the movement of people and goods. We therefore patrolled the area frequently in an attempt to curb any illegal activities taking place.

Mbulia group ranch and parts of Tsavo West National Park Due to the teams continued de-snaring efforts in this area we have noticed a decline in the amount of snaring taking place with only 8 snares being lifted.

Kajire Snaring and the destruction of vegetation continue to be burning issues in this area. However there has been some improvement as there is a noticeable decrease in the amount of charcoal burning taking place and in the level of snaring.

Report by Mathew Kiura