Participants

Alex Macharia – team leader Francis Chege Semeli Lolchuraki Nterito Kapina James Nuymu Vincent Mutua 4 KWS rangers

Areas Covered

During the course of the month of January the following areas were patrolled by the Mtito de-snaring team: Kaluku, Kilalinda, Umani, Kenze, Kari, and the Chyulu hills.

129 SNARES COLLECTED 20 ARRESTS

Goals and Objectives 1. Wildlife conservation and to promote the co-existence of people and wildlife 2. Make people understand the benefits of wildlife as well as capacity building and development

Findings

Kaluku / Kilalinda The Mtito desnaring team camped at Kaluku for the period of a week. The team working in conjunction with the Peregrine desnaring team patrolled the community area until we had to break camp due to the presence of Shiftas (armed Somalis) in the area. The shiftas had reportedly invaded a house bordering the park boundary 3 times in the same day. They ransacked the house, asking the occupants for food. Fortunately no one was injured. For security reasons we had to stop our patrols. We were however able to lift 17 snares before having to leave.

For a period of two weeks, 15 KWS rangers patrolled the area in search of the Shiftas who were unfortunately able to evade arrest. During our patrols we came across the carcasses of a warthog and buffalo along the Mtito River.

Umani / Chyulu hills A joint patrol was organized with the Chyulu team for a period of two weeks.

The two teams were based at Umani springs and were able to arrest 16 peope for offences varying from logging, charcoal burning, and Miraa picking. We were also able to arrest 2 wood carvers. Snaring here is limited due to the fact that there is mainly buffalo and elephants and hardly any other small or medium sized game. For this reason the poachers prefer to set their snares in other areas. We also came across logged trees and several charcoal kilns.

Kenze / Kari During our patrols in these areas we were able to arrest 4 poachers who were in possession of 40 kilos of bushmeat, 5 bows, 26 poisoned arrows, 2 torches and several knives.

The poachers had killed a buffalo and were busy butchering it when we ambushed them. They were arrested and booked at the Kibwezi police station. Community activities We had planned to show a wildlife film to one of the nearby schools but unfortunately had to cancel due to problems with our equipment. Once the equipment had been fixed we showed a wildlife film in Mtito town. The members of the public appreciated the film show and asked to be shown another one in the future.

Report by Alex Macharia