Participants

Alex Macharia – team leader Francis Chege James Nyumu Nteritu Kapina Vincent Mutua Samwel Lochuraki 2KWS Rangers

Areas Covered

During the course of the month of April the following areas were patrolled by the Mtito de-snaring team: Umanyi, Kaluku farm, the Chyulu gate, the general Mtito area, Mangelete, Ngulia hills, Wuyuni, Upper & Lower Kenani, Kenani and Kyulu stations.

39 SNARES COLLECTED 22 ARRESTS

Findings

Our operations begam on the 1st of april immediately after our monthly team meetings. A total of 39 snares were collected during the course of the month.

Most of the snares collected targeted small and medium sized game and were found mainly at Mangelete and around the Mtito river. 33 of the snares found were lifted at Mangelete. Logging is still taking place at both Ngiluni and Mangelete with trees being felled along the river banks.

The Mtito team later joined the Chyulu team and were able to arrest 22 people for the offences of wood carving and charcoal burning.

They were all booked at the Mtito Andei and Kibwezi police stations. Alot of footprints were observed especially along the Mtito river and in the Kenani and Kanga areas. The footprints were followed but lead to nothing and therefore no arrests were made.

With the coming of the dry season we expect an increase in the levels of poaching especially at Kenani and Kanga. With the dry season there will also be a decrease in the number of water points and it is expected that the poachers will venture further into the park to carry out their illegal activities as this is where most of the remaining water points will be found

Observable Evidence This month footprints and cuttings were found to be a common occurrence during our patrols.

Report by Alex Macharia