We were fortunate enough to have John and Linda back in the Mara Triangle for the last two weeks.  They came back to give a follow-up training for Morani and Memusi, especially night ambush deployment.  Morani was having problem with barking at the animals and poachers at night, thus giving out the location of the ambushing rangers.  Thanks to John and Linda, we now fixed this issue.

A Report on Deployment at ******* Lodge on August 8, 2009 from 9:45-11:30AM

The handlers got a report of a theft incident at the above mentioned camp.  The team was immediately dispatched to the scene.  On reaching there and after a brief interrogation the team learnt that the incident took place the previous night at about 7:00PM.  The tent where the theft was carried out from was number ****.  Among the people interviewed by the team included the very room steward who identified himself as *******.  The camp manager and his assistant was also present. 

Having gathered crucial information on the matter, Morani was deployed and after a little while it picked up a track that crossed the fence towards the airstrip of ******* Lodge.

At about half a kilometer run, the dog made a circle and subsequently headed towards a nearby thicket.  Right at the circled area, was a foot print that was seen by the handlers who also played a role on visual trackers.

On the other sie of the thicket, the replica of the previous footprint was once again seen.  This further confirmed the direction followed by the suspect.  This was around a village “manyatta” and sudently the trail was cut short by an enourmous contamination by a large herd of cattle emanating from the same village.

Observation/Conclusion:

-From the above narration, it can be said that the wrong doer sneaked into the compound from outside or at least left the compound via the fence as detected by the canine.

-The scene was also less contaminated since the dog was able to pick up the scent that lasted for about 12 hours.

Recommendation:

-It can be suggested that the presumed entrance into the tent be guarded even the more.

-The canine team should also be notified of the incident immediately. (Note: the earlier the better)

Shadrack Sabaya –Canine Unit Leader

A Report on Deployment at Enkiu on August 5, 2009 from 2:00-5:00PM

While at patrol in “Nyumba Nanne” forest, the canine team and the rangers from Ngiro-are obtained information from “charlie 1”(community scout) through the control of poachers seen engulfing a buffalo at Enkiu just at the foot of the escarpment.

Immediately the team arrived at the venue and on arriving ot the venue, a culpit dashed along the escarpment and disappeared from the vicinity.

Memusi was deployed on the fresh trail to persue the suspect.  The dog locked much easily and after about two kilomenters walk, the handlers and the rangers saw the very poacher at a reasonably close distance and hence advanced to make an arrest.  The suspect however climbed on the hill and the chase continued even to the other side of the escarpment.  The arrest was therefore made on the village of Partakila and the guys in the handcuf identified himself as **************.

Observation:

The arrested person was armed with a sword and a very sharp spear plus “rungu” (club).  This was a dangerous for all.

On seeing the suspect, the handlers held back the dog for he had completed his part.  Well done handlers and Memusi.

The terrain was horrible, with thorns and stones (Memusi got injured during this deployment)

The community scout (Charlie 1) did pretty well job, Bravo!

Shadrack Sabaya –Canine Unit Leader

A Report on Poacher Tracking on July 8, 2009

The Canine Team received a report of a poacher that was sen by the Narok rangers at Serena Island.

At about 10:30AM, the team was dispatched from their base at Ngiro-are to the alledged scene.  On reaching to the scene, the team was met with both the Mara Conservancy and some Narok County Council rangers ready to work in unison with the Dog unit.

After a brief interview with the Narok rangers, who witnessed the departure of the poachers, the handers noted a foot print that was right at the bank of the Mara river.  It was however unfortunate that the track was extremely contaminated by the rangers who tried to persue the suspect.

All the same, the handlers decided to start their canine on the mark of the foot print and the canine made several struggles and had to cross he river a number of times.  At some points, the handlers helped the dogs to cross the river.

After a hectic and rigorous search that took oabout 2 hours, the dog picked up a track and advanced towards a poachers’ camp or hideout and it was then that the rangers moved forward and arrested one pocher on the spot.  On interrogating the suspect, the team learnt that four other poachers had already sneaked and hid themselves into the thicket.

The dog was further started to persue the suspects and it took the canine a short time to figure out the track which actually went across the river.  The dog at this point had a ver strong drive that led him across the river and he went straight to find three poachers who burried themselves in very thick grass just at the bank of the river.

Both the handlers and other stakeholders involved were glad for it was unimagined success

Shadrack Sabaya –Canine Unit Leader