Participants:

Henry Lekochere – team leader Peter Wambua Kennedy Mungai Samuel Masaku Rajab Fundi John Malonza Two KWS Rangers

Area of operation:

During the month of May, the Burra team covered the following areas: Mkuki ranch, Sagalla ranch, Mgeno ranch, Lion hill, Ngutuni ranch and the Ndii area.

256 SNARES RECOVERED

Due to the fact that the KWS Rangers that usually work with the desnaring team were deployed elsewhere we were not able to conduct our patrols inside the park and instead were left with patrolling the ranches and farms bordering the park. We have noticed that illegal activities have increased in some areas, especially cattle grazing, charcoal burning and poaching which is contrary to our expectations. We had expected a decline in illegal activities ad the youth are currently involved in Kazi Kwa Vijani programs which enables them to earn some money. A reason for the increase in illegal activities could be due to the fact that not everyone has been absorbed by the program and the persistent drought and inflation have people poaching and other illegal activities as a means of income.

FINDINGS During the months operations the team lifted a total of 256 snares, 32 of which targeting medium sized game with the majority targeting small game small game.

As mentioned previously logging and charcoal burning continue to be a problem.

Observable evidence:

Most of the areas patrolled during the month recorded an increase in snaring. Poaching can charcoal burning has also recorded an incline in the community ranches. This could be due to the prolonged drought being experienced. Community members are thus engaging in poaching in order to sustain themselves.

Mkuki ranch The team received a call from an informer based at the ranch who told us that an eland calf had been found by Somali herdsmen.

The team visited the area and rescued the five day old calf taking it to the Voi elephant orphan stockade to be raised and looked after. The calf was in good health.

Sagalla ranch Is found on the south of the Mombasa road near to the Maungu Township. It is about 52,000 acres in size and is owned by 50 members through shareholding. The vegetation on the ranch is bushy thus creating a good habitat for wild animals. As the ranch is poorly managed no efforts are taken to conserve the wildlife and poaching is rampant as is logging for charcoal burning.

The ranch has been accommodation Somali cattle and camels which has degraded the environment. The same cattle have been found grazing inside the park on several occasions. We patrolled the park for a week and were able to lift 67 snares most of which targeted medium sized animals.

Mgeno ranch Borders Taita sisal estate and is east of the Mwatate Township. It is about 50,000 acres and is owned though shareholding by about 400 members. The vegetation is mainly bushy acacia-commiphora. The ranch has two dams which have water year round and are thus a vital water source to the wildlife in the area. We lifted only one snare during our patrols with one of the herders. We feel that the herders are probably engaged in poaching as they were reluctant to show us around the ranch. The ranch manager is collaborating with charcoal burners by allowing them to set up kilns in the ranch in return for a cut of the profits.

The logging and charcoal burning that takes place is a major threat to the vegetation in the area.

Ngutuni ranch The ranch is situated between Tsavo east national park and the Mombasa road and can be found east of the Voi Township and west of Ngutuni lodge. Wildlife from the park usually crosses to these farms and thus become vulnerable to poachers who set snares to trap them. We managed to lift 14 snares from the ranch all of which targeted medium sized game.

We were happy to see a herd of elephants and buffaloes headed for the ranches waterhole, as well as a variety of antelopes roaming and browsing in the area. Ndii This area is located along the Mombasa road near Ndii village. We patrolled the area for three consecutive days with the majority of the snares being lifted between the park fenceline and the railway line. A total of 139 snares were lifted the majority of which targeted small animals like dikdiks. At least three of the lifted snares showed signs of animals having been trapped in them. The signs were the presence of skin and hair and ground disturbance around where the snare was lifted. We also noticed that cattle are being grazed inside the park and a section of the electric fence has been damaged. Furthermore we observed that the railway communication cables have been dug up in order to remove the copper wire which can be sold for a profit and also be used for snares.

Lion hill This area is found at the gate to Tsavo east National park on the left of Voi town. A total of 35 snares were lifted all of which targeting small game.

It was surprising to see poaching taking place so close to the entrance of the park which goes to show that poaching is an ever increasing problem both inside and outside the park. We need to educate the community in the area about wildlife conservation in an effort to bring this vice to an end.

Report by Henry Lekochere