Participants:

Nicodemus Kivindyo – team leader Sylvester Matheka Samuel Odero Peter Wambua John Malonza Samuel Masaku Rajab Fundi 2 KWS Rangers

Area of operation:

During the month of November, the Burra team covered the following areas: Sagala ranch, Ngutuni ranch, Taru ranch and Mwatate sisal estate.

411 SNARES RECOVERED

FINDINGS.

During the month of November the team lifted a total of 411, out of which 308 targeted small game and 103 targeted big game. Sadly the team has noticed that both small and large animals are being killed not only by snares but as a side effect of the environmental degredation caused by the charcoal burning and logging that is taking place.

Observable evidence:

Despite the reasonable amount of rainfall during the month of November the team lifted 411 snares which is a large number. The remains of several animals were seen in the different ranches which is an indication that there is active poaching taking place.

Sagala Ranch The team set up camp in Sagala ranch for a period of one week and was able to lift 70 snares most of which targeted large game such as elands, buffaloes and giraffe all of which can be found in this area.

We came across the carcass of an eland which had been snared and the meat stripped from the bones by poachers. We feel that the individuals involved in charcoal burning and logging in the area are the same people who are setting the snares.

Ngutuni Ranch During its patrols in this ranch the team lifted 103 snares most of which targeted small game.

We were able to observe that buffaloes and some of the other larger mammas have become more aggressive. This could be due to the increase in the level of human activities, such as snaring and the destruction of vegetation that is taking place in this area.

Taru Ranch Most of the snares lifted in this ranch targeted small game.

The team came across the remains of gerenuk that had been killed by a small snare. Following a report received from an informant that several cows were killed by snares in this area we have decided to intensify and increase our patrols at Taru ranch in the following months.

Mwatate Sisal Estate Despite the fact that this is a sisal plantation there is a lot of wildlife found here ranging from small to big game.

This is especially true in the areas that have an abundance of vegetation, and areas where the sisal has been harvested exposing the vegetation that grew between the rows of planted sisal. It is here that most poachers set their snares. This can be ascertained by the fact that the remains of 3 Dikdik were found during our patrols in this estate.

Community work During the month of November the team carried out several activities in different schools.

On the 7th of November forty desks were presented to Kalambe primary school and a video show was given to Gideon Mosi primary school on the 27th. Both meetings were accompanied by environmental educational talks. On the 29th of November the Burra desnaring team participated in a tree planting exercise at Kajire primary school that had been organized by the KWS Education Department.

Report by Nicodemus Kivindyo