On 27th January 2010, we had another deployment to track poachers across Mara river at a place known as Ingira. It was indeed a very good track that was least contaminated and the handlers carried MORANI across the river to start the track. 

The drive of the dog was very high and we tracked for a distance of about 3km when the dog made a clean find of three poachers. we arrested them . I congratulated Morani and all the handlers plus the rangers for a job well done. our training program is going on very well. Memusi had a small swelling on the shoulder following a vaccine injection. the swelling though is recoverying swiftly. 

Written by Sabaiya, Head of Canine Unit

Care for the Wild/Anne Kent Taylor Scouts work closely with Mara Conservancy rangers inside the Mara Triangle and also in the areas bordering the reserve. This is an update from Elias Kamande, Field Coordinator:

The team is still going on with the patrols in the Mara triangle and the adjacent wildlife areas. We would like to report that wildlife habitat is diminishing in a very alarming rate due to the land clearance, logging and charcoal burning. Many hard wood trees are destroyed every day in the tune of clearing the land for maize fields. Few metres along the Oloololo escarpment is now dotted with few forest patches.

Huge charcoal kiln up on the escarpment.

We are still talking to the owners who have hundreds of acres to minimize the destruction and showing them the importance of the forest & wildlife. We don’t have any guarantee of minimizing this destruction because most of the land owners have their title deed and have their final decision on how to manage their land though the problem can be blamed on wildlife land policy.

The team is only using the diplomacy in solving this destruction. Farming is now becoming a problem as the wildlife are trying to go through the fence thus destroying the maize plantation. Then these new farmers are complaining that wildlife is bringing loss to them. For sure it’s the man who is encroaching the forest which is a home for multiple species of wildlife .We are losing the forest dwellers and soon we will add more species to the endangered list.

Snared Zebra at Ngusero Sambu

It’s now very hand to see forest hogs and Duikers that used to roam freely for the last few years in these areas although most of them are poached. This vice has increased since last year after many farmers are migrating to the area for farming. A number of them were dislocated from their areas during the post election violence, and also the recent evictions from Mau Forest.

Arrested Poacher with Giant Forest Hog Meat.

The team has noticed that some of the farmers are engaging in poaching activities. It’s noticed that they fence the potion of land and leaving some areas wide open then set the wire snare to catch the wildlife. So it’s very easy for the wildlife to get through the open space but they are always entangled by the snare. This habit can go for days before it’s noticed because they do this during the night and remove the snare early in the morning. However the team is always ready to deal with all these tricks and many are always arrested.

On the poaching side, the team is transversing the area and responding to all calls from the community in case of any poaching activities seen both during the day and night. Thanks to the Mara conservancy Rangers for joining the team during all the patrols…..Just by the way the joint patrol of both the team &Mara Conservancy rangers arrested one poacher with giant forest hog meat at Kilae area (Near Olpikidongoe).He was with other 3 poachers who escaped arrest though they managed to sneak with 2 bush back meat. He was taken to the police station and later to the court where he was charged ONLY Ksh1000 or 1 month imprisonment. He opted to pay the fine and now he’s free and back in the same area.
 
Compiled by Elias Kamande (Team Leader)

Applications are now open for the Born Free Responsible Guiding Award 2009. The award is again sponsored by the international wildlife conservation charity, and long-term friend of Kenya, the Born Free Foundation, demonstrating this organisation’s continued commitment to wildlife conservation in the Masai Mara. We would also like to thank Robin Pope Safaris, Norman Carr Safaris and Flatdog's Camp for hosting the winning guide during his trip to Zambia.

Launched last year, this prestigious award is the first of it’s kind in Kenya and is a collaboration between UK-based Responsible Tourism consultancy Tribal Voice Communications, who founded and organise the Award, and the Mara Conservancy. The Award aims to recognise and celebrate best practices in responsible safari guiding in the Mara Triangle.

The winning guide will receive an all expenses paid 2-week trip to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, a wildlife tourism destination internationally recognised for the quality of its safari guiding. Here the winner will have the unique opportunity to exchange knowledge with, and work alongside, some of Africa's top safari guides.

This year's competition is in three stages:

1. Nomination - All lodges and camps that conduct game drives in the Mara Conservancy are invited to nominate their most responsible resident safari guide, as measured against TVC’s Safari Guiding Checklist. Each lodge/camp is permitted to nominate one guide only by 12 noon 1st December 2009.

2. Short-listing of Finalists - The nominations will be reviewed by the Mara Conservancy, Tribal Voice Communications and the Born Free Foundation and a short-list of finalists selected. This stage will draw on the information supplied in the nomination forms and the Mara Conservancy’s Cheetah vehicle patrol records (anti-animal harassment unit).

3. Mystery Game Drives - The short-listed finalists will be assessed by two 'Mystery Visitors' during normal game drives (unbeknown to the guide) against the Safari Guiding Checklist. These ‘visitors’ are conservation / guiding professionals. The winner will be the guide who obtains the best average score across these two drives.

The Born Free Responsible Safari Guiding Award 2009 will be announced in early 2010.

Good luck!

Supporters and Sponsors 

Sergeant Kerua Today.

On the 18th August, at 10am, Sergeant Kerua with the rangers from Iseiya was on an Anti-Poaching patrol. As they were traversing through one of the thickets, Sergeant Kerua came upon a lone male buffalo hidden in the bushes.  

The buffalo jumped up and charged Sergeant Kerua and, with no time to react, Sergeant Kerua was cut in the right thigh by the horns and thrown into the air, he was then struck a second time, tearing open his stomach. 

Kerua was immediately taken to Serena Hotel and was treated by Leonard Nyaga who works in the clinic at Serena. As the injuries sustained were very deep it was necessary to fly Kerua immediately to Nairobi where he was treated by Doctors at Aga Khan Hospital.  

The surgery went well, and once Kerua was strong enough he was discharged on the 2nd September, after which he went home to recuperate.  

We are now very pleased to welcome Sergeant Kerua back to work at the Mara Conservancy and congratulate him for his courage. We commend all of our rangers for the dangerous work that they carry out daily and know that without their bravery the Mara Triangle would not be the safe haven that it is now.

Care for the Wild/Anne Kent Taylor Scouts work closely with Mara Conservancy rangers inside the Mara Triangle and also in the areas bordering the reserve. This is an update from Elias Kamande, Field Coordinator:

The team and Mara Conservancy rangers patrolled various places adjacent to the Mara Triangle. Most of these places are still in danger as the poachers are still roaming and killing our wildlife during the night.

Dead elephant killed by poachers.

The hide & seek game is the order of the day although arrests are still made almost every month. Poachers are still getting new techniques and using them to trick the forests.

The team was happy with the good collaboration of other wildlife organisations and even school children! K.W.S vet are also very supportive as they are very punctual when called upon to treat the injured animals.

Saitoti receiving the snares from the school pupils.

Last month two medium sized elephants were treated by Dr Doninic Mijele with other K.W.S rangers from Mara reserch station. Some of these elephants got those injuries from the up the Ololoolo escarpment near Egos.

The team and the rangers helping in removing the snare from the baby elephant.

For the first time the team discovered a big baboon trap that was placed in the forest and after a closer look it revealed that a number of baboons or other monkeys were already killed in that trap. It seems that these traps could be many in the forests and that could be one of the reaons as to why the number of primates is decreasing in the area.

The team would like to say a big thanks to the brave Mara Conservancy Rangers,K.W.S Mara station not forgetting all those driver guides  who assisted in locating the sick wildlife.The team is still dedicated in protecting the wildlife despite many challages from those who want kill them using many ways. We are still helping in arresting the poachers and helping in keeping our wildlife save. Trying to fulfil all the objectives is still the key factor in protecting our wildlife.  

Two poachers arrested by the team.

Elias Kamade.