Participants: Isaac Maina – Team Leader Mutua Koti – Tracker Jacob Dadi – Tracker Feisal Muteti – Tracker 2 KWS Rangers

This project tartetted three different areas namely,Irima, Mariwenyi and Mackinnon

A total of 574 snares were recovered. Irima, a known hot snaring zone yielded 264 snares; 82 of which were laid inside the Park while 164, mainly for dik dik, were found in the Park neighborhood. Worth mentioning is the fire which razed the area on September 10 which we strongly believe was started by poachers. This fire took 12 hours to contain, clearing the grass, and exposing many snares lying dangerously like landmines. A few days later, it rained and the fresh grass growth attracted many grazers to the area – a recent revisit revealed fresh snares in the area. This was probably the purpose of the fire.

Mariwenyi, a communal land on the Eastern side of the Park yielded 244 snares most of them for dik dik. The saving of two dik dik, which were caught in snares, was a source of inspiration that rejuvenated our morale and encouraged us to search for more snares. By the end of the day we managed to recover 162 snares.

Mackinnon along the southern Park boundary yielded 53 snares, all for big animals. A revisit to Ndara reaped 31 snares within a period of one and a half hours.

Irima and Ndara are the next areas of operation.

Miasenyi School were presented with books donated by Safaricom worth 100,000 on September 20.

Report by Isaac Maina

THE BURRA TEAM SEPTEMBER 2002 – MIASENYI SCHOOL – BUCHUMA

Local communities are major players in conservation circles. Without their positive attitude towards wildlife, the fauna and flora is in jeopardy. Such is the case here where rampant charcoal burning and tree felling is the order of the day denuding vegetation without replacement. AN UNIMAGINABLE NUMBER OF ANIMALS ARE BEING KILLED DAILY THROUGH SNARING, and other cruel poaching vices threatening to decimate the animal population.

Mechanisms to eradicate poverty from the community, educating them on the importance of wildlife, and making them beneficiaries is vitally important if we are to win this battle. A change in their unfriendly attitude towards wildlife is vital. With all this in mind, the Trust tries to find help for schools on the Park boundary.

SAFARICOM KENYA donated 100,000 worth of schoolbooks, stationery, sporting equipment in a ceremony on September 20. Present were Mr. and Mrs. Michael Joseph and their team from Safaricom, teachers, students, and the local community. The forum was used to highlight the sensitive issue related to wildlife and environment in a friendly atmosphere. To culminate the exercise a field trip for the whole school was organized, necessitating two trips by the KWS bus. They have kindly let us have two trips for the price of one. The first trip took place on 28th September, which allowed them to learn through seeing. It was a dream come true for the children.

We are extremely grateful to Safaricom Kenya for their kind donation.

The Community element of the Burra Team has still to be developed, and we are desperately in need of a video projector and small generator to educate the Community and bring them some positive input. This is working so well in the Mtito and Ithumba areas, that I can’t wait to get started.

Report by Isaac Maina