BURRA TEAM

Operation Period 3rd – 30th November 2004 Participants: Isaac Maina. - Team leader Mutua Koti -Tracker Jacob Dadi.-Tracker Sammy Odero.-Tracker David Wamae –Ranger Guyo Jatani –Ranger Findings The month was characterized by heavy down pour and shortage of rangers which limited us to the number of working days. The rain was a blessing because it kept poachers busy in their farm and again the abundance of foliage and water saw the animals disperse evenly as opposed to the concentration at water points during the dry spell. The exercise was carried out along the highway which could be accessed by the vehicle. Birikani area yielded two snares while the neighboring Ngutuni area had 35 snares 14 targeting the medium sized antelopes. Ndii area had a total of 65 snares six from the inner side while another six from the outer stretch between fence line and the railway line. The rest, 53, came from the pipeline stretch along the Manga hill. The area around the lion hill and Voi River just next to the park access road was not spared from snares. Eleven fresh snares were lifted, all of them targeting medium sized animals. There is a large group of Impala in this area and must be a very tempting target to poachers At Westermann camp neighboring Mgeno ranch we encountered a snared Impala, dead, and had a young calf still alive, luckily it joined the rest of the herd.

Seven snares all targeting medium sized animals were lifted. While in Rukinga ranch, we tried a few ambushes at night but to no avail. The previous night had been a busy one for horn and torch poachers where three groups were sighted by the scouts from an observation point. 114 snares were lifted during the exercise. Bura team would like to thank the management and the supporters who have tirelessly supported the team.. Special thanks to waves trust, Bury church school of England and Amara conservation for supporting our community education project. Many thanks to KWS rangers and management, team members, Vet unit and the entire Sheldrick staffs for their team work and support to our effort. To all thanks, Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year. Compiled by Isaac Maina.