In August, the Aerial Unit flew 236.6 hours and covered 30,180 kilometres. The dry season was at its height across Tsavo during the month, the landscape parched and open, with wildlife and livestock alike concentrated within reach of the few permanent water sources that remained. It was a demanding month, dominated by a major rhino notching and tagging operation, two challenging elephant translocations, sustained anti-poaching and livestock pressure across Galana Ranch, and a significant bushfire.

Two problem bull elephants were translocated to safer ground during the month, both long-standing cases that had resisted every attempt to herd them by helicopter. The first was darted and moved on 8 August from the Lukenya University area, with the support of the helicopter, ground teams, a crane truck, and the KWS Voi veterinary team.

Two days later, on 10 August, came the more difficult of the two – the persistent one-eyed bull that had troubled the Subati and Lukenya University area for months, and which featured in last month's report. He was finally located by the fixed-wing and ground teams, darted from the helicopter, and moved to a position where the crane truck could reach him. Once he was down, Dr Limo examined the damaged eye and discovered the cause of the animal's long-standing troubles: an extremely large arrowhead lodged deep in the socket. The eye was beyond saving, but the arrowhead was removed, and the bull was successfully translocated to Tsavo West near Kamboyo, far from the community he had been in conflict with. It was a fitting conclusion to a case the team had been working for many months.

A major undertaking through the middle of the month was a rhino notching and tagging operation, spanning Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary and the Tsavo West IPZ across roughly ten days from 11 August. A number of black rhino were located, notched and tagged over the course of the operation. Notching and tagging are vital tools for monitoring individual animals and strengthening the protection of this critically endangered population, and the operation represented a significant investment of aerial hours in support of the rhino programme.

The veterinary caseload during August included two elephant calf treatments. On 10 August, a juvenile elephant near Ndara was treated for injuries thought to have resulted from an attempted lion predation, with a favourable prognosis. On 15 August at Ziwani, a calf was found with a severe break to its back left knee joint; the mother was immobilised first to allow safe access, and the calf was treated, though the prognosis was guarded. Towards the end of the month, on 27 August, the veterinary team was flown to Ithumba to treat three elephants carrying wounds – two from arrows and one from a spear.

A continuing concern through August was the recurrence of arrow and spear injuries to elephants, with cases treated at Ithumba and evidence of further arrowed animals around Kulalu. The persistence of these injuries points to ongoing conflict and illegal activity along the park's margins, and the Aerial Unit will continue to monitor the affected areas closely.

An orphaned elephant calf was rescued from Kulalu Ranch on 17 August. The calf had been observed alone on the river bank for three days by Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) staff before being rescued by SWT and KWS rangers, taken to the Lali Hills airstrip, and flown onward to Kaluku for care.

Human–elephant conflict continued to require regular helicopter responses throughout the month, with problem elephants returned to the park at Gazi, Kiboko, Kasala, and Kanziku, among others. Notable operations included seven elephants driven back at Kasala, thirteen returned at Gazi on 27 August, and a further ten returned at Gazi on 30 August.

Illegal activity remained heavily concentrated across the Galana landscape and the northern ranches, where the twin pressures of livestock encroachment and charcoal production persisted throughout the month. Very large livestock concentrations remained anchored to the permanent water points, and a major joint operation on 14 August – involving SWT teams from Galana and Kulalu, the drone team, ADC and KWS – rounded up over 6,000 head of livestock from inside the park and conservancy for impounding. Anti-poaching ambushes on the northern Galana boundary continued to yield results and intelligence. A smaller but satisfying enforcement action came on 24 August at Lake Jipe, where the helicopter spotted a boat and four large fish traps inside the park; the team landed and destroyed the traps, which contained several terrapins and freshwater crabs.

The month also brought a serious bushfire in the Murka area on 7-8 August, which ultimately burned 3,933 acres. The fixed-wing provided aerial assistance to teams from KWS, SWT and Tsavo Trust working on the ground, helping to direct the firefighting effort. The blaze was brought under control and finally extinguished at night, with the firebreak created by the Kishushe-Ziwani fenceline, combined with hand-fighting of the eastern and western flanks, proving highly effective in halting its spread.

Despite the challenges of the deepening dry season, the month's work carried its share of encouragement – from the resolution of the one-eyed bull's long ordeal to the rescue of an orphaned elephant calf.