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LWC Super Cub during a recce flight in Northern Kenya
Final Report on Flying for Security and Wildlife Intervention Operations
Submitted to Zuercher Tierschutz
by Richard Moller Chief Conservation Officer Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
May 2010 Contact: [email protected]
Report on Flying for Security and Wildlife Operations
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 3 Report on Flying for Wildlife and Security Operations ........................................................................... 3 Flying Hours Breakdown from 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010 ........................................................... 5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Report on Flying for Security and Wildlife Operations
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy received $30,000 in April 2009 to cover the costs of 200 hours of flying for elephant security, management and conservation in the Conservancy and associated community, private and government conservation areas to the North. This report covers the period between 1st April 2009 and 31st March 2010.
REPORT ON FLYING FOR WILDLIFE AND SECURITY OPERATIONS The LWC Super Cub plays a vital role in providing back up to armed security related follow ups. This ability to carry out aerial surveillance is one of LWC’s most important tools in the fight against poaching and insecurity within the region. During 2009 the demand for rhino horn and ivory escalated dramatically. The Kenya Police Reservist (KPR) armed teams were involved in 84 follow‐ups (average 1 follow up every 4.3 days) to incidents of wildlife poaching, armed robbery, road banditry and stock theft within the region. Most of these were done in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Kenya Police and Community Scouts within the NRT Community Conservancies. A total of 237 elephant tusks were recovered and handed over to the Kenya Wildlife Service. A total of 81 carcasses were poached/illegally killed and 132 died from natural deaths‐mainly drought. The teams recovered a total of 5 illegal firearms plus 69 rounds of ammunition and made 61 arrests, 21 of which were poaching related. All those arrested were handed over to the Kenya Police for prosecution.
Aerial support was also provided for wildlife veterinary interventions comprising gunshot wounds, fight wounds, poisoned arrows and snares. The animals attended to included elephants, black and white rhino, Grevy Zebra, cheetah and wild dog. Elephants comprised the majority of the cases followed by black rhino, mainly because they were targeted either for poaching or due to human wildlife conflicts. The area covered by our resident vet is vast and without the support of an aircraft many of the cases reported would not have been attended to in a timely manner. In addition as at the end of March this year, a total of 19 elephant poaching incidents have been reported to the LWC‐24 hour operations room. Of these 11 carcasses have been identified and 6 tusks recovered and in the safe custody of the Kenya Wildlife Service. There has been a staggering 6 reported rhino poaching incidences in Kenya thus far and our armed teams remain extremely busy in responding to serious security incidences. Following the good amount of rainfall towards the end of 2009 and for the better part of this year, the numbers and distribution of elephant within LWC and throughout the NRT areas has improved and incidences of human‐wildlife conflict at a minimum. A detailed breakdown of all the flights relating to the security and monitoring activities are outlined below, including veterinary interventions and collaring operations.
Report on Flying for Security and Wildlife Operations
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Poached elephant carcass‐Ewaso Nyiro River
Report on Flying for Security and Wildlife Operations
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FLYING HOURS BREAKDOWN FROM 1ST APRIL 2009 TO 31ST MARCH 2010 Month Date Flying
Time Flight Details Flight
Category April 2009
15th 2 hrs Recce Il Ngwesi (150 elephant), Tassia (50 elephant), Shaba National Reserve reports of 5 elephant carcasses
Routine
17th 0.5 hrs Recce over LWC, boundary and rhino check Routine 26th 0.7 hrs Recce over LWC and boundary check Routine29th 1.5 hrs Recce over NRT Naibunga Conservancy, very few elephant
seen and very dry Routine
May 2009
1st 2.2 hrs Recce LMD (27 elephant), Il Ngwesi (160 elephant), Tassia (30 elephant) and looking for 3 known carcasses, a lot of livestock all over
Routine
3rd 5 hrs Recce of NRT Sera Conservancy, very dry and few elephant seen, reports of an armed gang in area
Routine
7th 3 hrs Recce for elephant distribution in Barsalinga area. None found
Routine
11th 1 hr To security/Conservation meeting in Nanyuki – Laikipia Wildlife Forum
Routine
12th 0.5 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine 14th 0.5 hrs Recce & grazing meeting NRT West Gate Conservancy Routine 14th 1 hr Problem Animal Control (PAC) elephant at Ol Pejeta
Conservancy PAC
16th 1 hr Vet treatment of wounded elephant at Il Ngwesi and local recce
Veterinary
17th 1 hr Recce of eastern Laikipia/Ol Jogi areas, 50 plus elephant on Loldaiga
Routine
18th 2 hrs Recce of NRT areas Koiya/Milgis, very dry and no elephant seen
Routine
19th 3 hrs Recce of areas & grazing meetings at NRT Melako and Namunyak Conservancies
Routine
22nd 0.5 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine22nd 2 hrs Recce to look for elephant in Sera Conservancy for collaring
candidates Routine
24th 7 hrs Elephant collaring surveillance at Sera Conservancy Veterinary27th 0.5 hrs Local security recce of LWC Routine 29th 0.4 hrs Local security recce of LWC Routine
June 2009
1st 1 hr Local elephant exclusion zone check on LWC Routine2nd 3.5 hrs Recce with KWS of Gotu and Shaba National Reserves
following armed gang reports in the area Routine
6th 3 hrs Recce to NRT Biliqo area and also meet for livestock purchase program
Routine
9th 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine 12th 1.2 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine 13th 4.2 hrs Recce for elephant over NRT areas – Kipsing, Kalama,
Serolevi, Laisamis, Biliqo. Very dry and few elephant seen Routine
15th 1.5 hrs Recce over NRT Kipsing areas, very dry, much livestock Routine 17th 3 hrs To Nairobi to attend Kenya Wildlife Service Board Meeting Routine
Report on Flying for Security and Wildlife Operations
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Month Date Flying Time
Flight Details Flight Category
18th 0.7 hrs Recce over Tassia area, dry and much livestock, 50 elephant Routine 20th 1.5 hrs Security/elephant distribution recce over Il Ngwesi, Tassia –
very dry, few elephant seen and much livestock Routine
24th 4.2 hrs Elephant collaring surveillance in Sera Conservancy Veterinary 24th 3 hrs Treatment of injured rhino at Laikipia Nature Conservancy Veterinary 26th 0.5 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine28th 1 hr Recce over NRT West Gate Conservancy 5 elephant Routine 29th 0.5 hrs Recce to Borana Ranch and back to LWC Routine
July 2009
7th 1 hr Rhino security meeting at Ol Pejeta Conservancy Anti Poaching 8th 1 hr Security check over LWC Routine14th 0.5 hrs Local security check over LWC Routine 15th 1.5 hrs To Ol Pejeta following attempted rhino poaching Anti Poaching 18th 3.5 hrs To Nairobi for meeting with KWS on veterinary issues and
Association of Private Land Rhino Sanctuaries meeting Routine
19th 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine20th 3.4 hrs Recce over LWC and also surveillance for ear notching rhino Routine 22nd 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine 27th 1.7 hrs To treat wounded black rhino at Ol Pejeta Conservancy Veterinary 30th 3 hrs To Nairobi to attend KWS Board meeting Routine
August 2009
2nd 2.2 hrs Recce of LWC northern boundary, Il Ngwesi, Tassia – only 5 elephant seen and livestock everywhere. Extremely dry
Routine
3rd 2 hrs To treat wounded black rhino at Ol Pejeta Conservancy Veterinary 4th 4.5 hrs To Nairobi to meet with Commissioner of Police re LWC
armed units to get extension Anti Poaching
9th 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine 14th 0.5 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine 15th 1 hr To Ol Pejeta Conservancy to euthanize wounded black
rhino, shot by poachers in July Veterinary
16th 0.5 hrs To Borana Ranch to discuss Sanga poaching incidents Anti Poaching19th 1 hr To check injured black rhino at Ol Pejeta Conservancy Veterinary 20th 1.7 hrs To provide surveillance whilst capturing and putting in
boma injured black rhino at Ol Pejeta Conservancy Veterinary
21st 3.5 hrs Joint KWS, Kenya Police, LWC, OPC follow up on rhino poachers just outside Ol Pejeta. 2 poachers were apprehended (shot) after armed contact
Anti Poaching
22nd 1.5 hrs Provide aerial surveillance whilst ear notching rhino on LWC Veterinary 23rd 0.5 hrs Provide aerial surveillance whilst ear notching rhino on LWC Veterinary 27th 3 hrs Another armed contact just north of LWC at Tinga area with
armed Turkana poachers following poaching of a giraffe. Anti Poaching
Sept. 2009
7th 1 hr Following armed banditry on a vehicle just north of LWC where 3 people were shot dead
Anti Poaching
9th 0.5 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine12th 5 hrs Recce for elephant distribution in NRT Namunyak
Conservancy and Koiya area. Very dry and very few seen Routine
15th 1.5 hrs Recce of Sera Conservancy and to treat a sick giraffe at Sera Routine 18th 1.5 hrs Recce of NRT Kalama Conservancy. Very dry and no Routine
Report on Flying for Security and Wildlife Operations
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Month Date Flying Time
Flight Details Flight Category
elephant, much livestock 20th 0.5 hrs Recce LWC to Dol Dol, extremely dry all round Routine 22nd 1.5 hrs Elephant poaching in Biliqo area, 2 carcasses found Anti Poaching 23rd 1 hr Recce following Biliqo elephant poaching Anti Poaching24th 3 hrs To Nairobi for KWS Mountain region meeting on security
and anti poaching issues Anti Poaching
Oct. 2009
12th 2 hrs Recce of Laisamis area for Grevy’s zebra locations. Very few found and extremely dry with many dead livestock
Routine
15th 1 hr To Sosian Ranch to remove a spear from a cow elephant Veterinary 16th 0.5 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine 22nd 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine23rd 0.7 hrs To KWS meeting in Shaba Nat. Reserve to discuss elephant
poaching in region Anti Poaching
24th 0.7 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine 27th 0.7 hrs Local LWC northern boundary check Routine 30th 0.7 hrs Local security recce on LWC after heavy rain Routine
Nov. 2009
1st 1 hr Local boundary check on LWC following heavy rain Routine7th 0.7 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine 8th 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine 12th 2.7 hrs Elephant distribution recce of NRT Sera Conservancy to
Bachuma. 6 elephant at Pejelo but no others seen Routine
14th 1.2 hrs Recce of LMD and Mlango areas for elephant. Very dry and only livestock seen
Routine
17th 3.5 hrs General security recce of NRT Namunyak Conservancy, few elephant and much livestock observed
Routine
18th 1 hr Back to LWC from Namunyak areas Routine 23rd 1.5 hrs Drop off tracker dog and handler in Wamba following
armed road banditry incident on West Gate Conservancy Anti Poaching
26th 0.7 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine29th 4 hrs Security recce following armed raid and stolen livestock
from community just north of LWC. Joint Police and LWC follow up, stock found on top of Koitim hill and armed contact followed and aircraft shot at
Anti Poaching
30th 1 hr Further follow up on previous armed contact at the request of District Commissioner and recce of Koitim hills again but all stock had gone
Anti Poaching
Dec. 2009
3rd 0.7 hrs Local security recce of northern boundary of LWC Routine 5th 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine10th 0.7 hrs To Ngare Ndare to treat elephant called Mountain Bull for a
bullet wound received in Sanga area Veterinary
17th 0.7 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine 18th 2.5 hrs Recce of Biliqo and Kalama areas following reports of
armed gangs in area Anti poaching
24th 1 hr Recce of Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia Routine 26th 0.8 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine 27th 3.5 hrs Armed poachers shot 2 black rhino on LWC, killing 1 and Anti Poaching
Report on Flying for Security and Wildlife Operations
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Month Date Flying Time
Flight Details Flight Category
wounding the other. Security responded immediately and poachers escaped into the darkness without horns
27th 1 hr Surveillance during darting and treatment of the wounded black rhino on LWC
Veterinary
31st 3.2 hrs At the request of Provincial Commissioner, aerial recce of Gotu areas following stock theft by armed gang
Anti Poaching
Jan. 2010
1st 1 hr Assess security of rhino at Ol Pejeta Conservancy following attempted poacher incursions
Anti Poaching
3rd 4.5 hrs Recce for elephant concentrations NRT Sera Conservancy, 200 plus elephant east of Sabache, few elephant Sera/Sabarawa
Routine
4th 1 hr Recce of Soito Narok and Chapulo, many elephant in this area following good rains
Routine
6th 1.5 hrs Recce of NRT Sera Conservancy, some rain and sign of elephants
Routine
9th 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine10th 2.5 hrs Recce over Kauro areas, green and several elephant groups
seen Routine
12th 2.7 hrs Recce of West Gate, Kalama, Ngaroni, Sessia Conservancies. Area very dry and desperate situation for wildlife
Routine
14th 0.7 hrs Recce of LMD/Il Ngwesi where several elephant (150 plus) seen near Ngare Ndare bridge area
Routine
15th 1.5 hrs Recce north of LWC, Wamba and back Routine 17th 1.7 hrs Recce of LMD, LWC, Mlango, Tassia (200 elephant), Il
Ngwesi (150 elephant), areas green and elephant calm Routine
18th 1 hr Recce over LMD to Kalama return, very green everywhere and scattered elephant seen
Routine
21st 2 hrs Recce to NRT Naibunga Conservancy, some scattered rain and wildlife
Routine
Feb. 2010
6th 1.7 hrs Recce of Gachuru and Shaba National Reserve following reports of armed men and possible stock theft
Anti Poaching
12th 2.7 hrs Recce to Masalani and Ishaqbini Conservancy on Tana River Routine 13th 4.4 hrs Hirola survey of Ishaqbini area Routine14th 2.7 hrs Recce over Masalani, Tana River Primate Reserve, no
elephant seen, but some signs Routine
17th 3 hrs Return to LWC from Masalani/Ishaqbini Conservancy Routine 20th 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine 21st 3 hrs Recce of Sera Conservancy to look for translocated impala
and elephant movements. At least 150 elephant Routine
22nd 2 hrs Security back up training exercise on LWC with aircraft Anti Poaching23rd 6 hrs Elephant collaring surveillance at Biliqo area plus elephant
distribution check at same time. Found 3 recent carcasses Anti Poaching
24th 5 hrs LWC annual game census, joint air and ground count Routine 25th 1.5 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine 27th 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine
March 1st 1 hr Local security recce of northern boundary LWC Routine
Report on Flying for Security and Wildlife Operations
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Month Date Flying Time
Flight Details Flight Category
2010 3rd 1 hr Recce of LWC plus Kalama over Samburu National Reserve Area green and calm
Routine
8th 1.3 hrs To Solio Ranch following the poaching of a white rhino Anti Poaching 11th 0.7 hrs Local security recce over LWC Routine 13th 1.7 hrs Recce to Naibor in Laikipia, green everywhere, 150 plus
elephant seen Routine
14th 2 hrs Recce Naibor to Nanyuki to LWC, area looking fantastic, green and plentiful elephant over ranches and Conservancies
Routine
15th 1 hr Recce of LMD, Tassia (150 elephant), Il Ngwesi (100 elephant)
Routine
18th 3.7 hrs Aerial census of Grevy’s zebra on LWC, 500 meter transects (343 counted)
Routine
19th 8 hrs Request of District Commissioner, follow up to armed stock theft of over 400 goats. Found culprits who shot at aircraft several times. Police and Community scouts set ambush, 1 Police man shot dead another injured. 150 goats recovered
Anti Poaching
20th 1.7 hrs Security recce over LWC, Ngare Ndare Forest and northern boundary
Routine
21st 2 hrs Aerial census of Grevy’s zebra just outside elephant gap (51 counted)
Routine
21st 1.2 hrs To Ol Pejeta Conservancy to collar lion Veterinary 23rd 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine 27th 1 hr Local security recce of LMD and Lengishu Routine 31st 1 hr Local security recce over LWC Routine
TOTAL HOURS FLOWN 245.2 Hours Routine Flying Hrs 158.8 Hours Anti‐Poaching, Veterinary operations & Problem Animal Control Flying Hrs
86.4 Hours
CONCLUSION The support provided by Zuercher Tierschutz for aerial surveillance has enabled the swift response to poaching threats, veterinary operations and human wildlife conflict situations. We had anticipated a total of 200hrs of flying over a one year period, however due to an increase in the number of security incidences reported the total flying done was 245.2hrs.The over‐expenditure for this was covered by LWC. We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support from Zuercher Tierschutz for our wildlife and security operations and look forward to continued collaboration.