De – Snaring Report for July 2006
Patrick Mutuku James Lodungkiyok Lemanten Lambarakwe James Lodungokiyok Mutua Koti Musau Itulya Rajab Hamisi 2 KWS Rangers
During the course of this month the area covered were: Kanyululo, Macho kobo, Kiasa, the general area of Yatta, Umbi, Yimathoka, Powerline, Kanziko, Tundani, Lagga-kundu, and Kyamanyenze.
TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED 308
During the course of the month of July’s patrols we noticed an overall increase in illegal activities in Tsavo East National Park northern area. The first week the team was busy clearing roads from fallen trees at the Tundani- Tiva Rd and Shimo la Shetani- Tiva circuit.
The Team started its de-snaring operation at the Sheldricks blind, were we found a lot of footprints moving towards the Yatta. On top of the Yatta we lifted 162 snares and found 1 dead Dikdik at a poacher’s hideout.
The team was informed by men at the Umbi Gate of serious poaching in the area. We moved in quickly to lay ambush at a poacher’s hideout and sadly had no success in arresting any poachers.We stayed in this area for 2 days and lifted 26 snares targeting big game, 3 Lesser Kudu skins and found a lot of dried bush meat.
An informer alerted us of lamping at the Yimathoka along the newly cut fence line, it was reported that there was poaching activities along this fence line killing about 20 Dikdik per day.
On our last day we revisited Umbi. There we found a snared female Lesser Kudu which was barely alive.
During the month of July we visited several schools. First we visited Kasaala Secondary and Kisou Primary School and showed the students wildlife films.
The next school we visited was Mukua Nima Primary School were the David Shledrick Wildlife trust was scheduled to deliver a donation of desks for the children & teachers.
The park boundary is soon to be fenced off in these regions to stop illegal activities in the park and also to try and minimize Human conflict with wildlife. Already a 10Km stretch of bush has been cleared in preparation of the fence line.
Report by Patrick Mutuku