Participants

Henry Lekochere –team leader John Mungai Abdi Adan Boru Okicha Gerald Maghanga Sylvester Matheka 2 KWS rangers

Area Covered

During the month of May we carried out patrols at Ziwani, Salaita, Mbuyuni and Maktau.

TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED 42 2 ARRESTS

Findings During the course of the month the team lifted 42 snares of which 30 targeted medium game, and 12 targeted large game.

The team was also able to arrest 2 herdsmen who were grazing cattle in the park.

OBSERVABLE EVIDENCE Most of the areas patrolled by the team during the operations recorded a drop in the number of snares lifted. This is basically due to the fact that the poachers have changed their operational methods, opting to operate at night using the lamping method.

ZIWANI The Ziwani area was patrolled at the beginning of the month’s operations for the duration of a week. The area yielded many snares and a snared animal was also found.

We managed to lift 36 snares, 26 of which targeted medium sized game, and 10 targeting large game. The team also came across the carcass of a snared Impala. Charcoal burning was also prevalent in the area.

SALAITA During our patrols in this area we noticed that the incursion of cattle into the park for grazing is still rampant and a major problem.

We were able to arrest 2 herdsmen for illegal grazing. The culprits were booked at the Taveta Police Station.

MBUYUNI The Mbuyuni area was patrolled for a period of two days with 2 old large snares being lifted.

The team came across blood stains and the remains of an Impala leg, both of which are indicators that an animal had been killed by poachers using the lamping method.

MAKTAU The team visited some previous snaring hotspots along the park boundary and lifted 4 snares that targeted medium sized game.

Charcoal burning and logging is another ongoing problem in the area.

COMMUNITY WORK The team organized two ecological trips to Tsavo West National Park.

The two schools that benefited from the field trips were Msorongo Primary School and Ziwani Primary School. The students were delighted to visit some of the tourist hotspots including Mzima Springs, Chaimu and Shetani lava. During the trips the students saw herds of elephants, giraffes, elands, oryx and a cheetah. Both of the ecological trips were successful with both students and teachers thoroughly enjoying themselves. There were requests for the school to be taken on another field trip.

Report by Henry Lekochere