Participants

Patrick Mutuku– team leader Abdi Adan Samuel Loluchurachi James Lodugu Kiuko Julius Mumo Philip Kipkorir Mutual Koti Patrick Ekai KWS rangers

Areas Covered

During the course of this month the Ithumba team patrolled the following areas: Kalovoto, Kanziku, the Powerline, Tundaru, Lagga Kungu and just behind Ithumba hill.

TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED 609

Findings This month’s operations were carried out together with the Gazi team, and were centered around the general Ithumba area. Poachers had noticed that last month our operations had been further afield and had come as close to the orphan’s stockades situating themselves 2 kilometers from the campsite just behind Ithumba hill. Around the elephant stockade we found an abandoned poachers hideout that had been erected on top of a tree. The snares that we recovered here targeted small and medium sized game.

Two kilometers from the campsite four lesser Kudus had been snared and fortunately the poacher concerned was arrested and taken to Mutomo police station.

The snares he was using had been made from the fence line wire that was stolen last year. The sad thing is that one of the fence attendants had purportedly sold the fence wire to a poacher for the low price of 100 kshs which was paid to him in bush meat.

Due to the fact that over the months poachers have gained knowledge about our operation techniques we have had to change our strategies and carry our all our operations during the early hours of the morning and late in the evening. Around Lagga Kung a group of 3 poachers had killed 19 Dikdiks.

We managed to rescue two Dikdiks and recovered two bows and poisoned arrows. Unfortunately the poachers managed to evade arrest.

On the community side the team leader, Patrick Mutuku, visited the district community wildlife officer Mr. Masila and the area District Officer in order to discuss and lay down some conservation strategies. The Trust purchased a new tractor, funded by Rettet Die Elefanten Afrikas, for the Ithumba Unit. This equipment will be a great benefit and aid to the Ithumba Stockades and Elephants.

Report by Patrick Mutuku