SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST
AERIAL SURVEILLANCE
operated in partnership with the kenya wildlife service november 2022 report
HOURS FLOWN 193 KMS COVERED 27,870 AREAS PATROLLED Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Chyulu Hills, Galana Ranch, Kulalu Ranch, Shimba Hills, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. NOVEMBER 2022 AERIAL STATISTICS
2022
MONTHLY AERIAL PATROL MAP
NOVEMBER
As is common at the end of a drought, even with the onset of the rains, is a sudden rash of carcasses and orphan rescues. The change of weather and the sudden availability of fresh green food sometimes accelerates death in the weakest individuals. A total of four (4) orphaned elephants were rescued in November with assistance from the Aerial Unit, either in transporting or assisting to locate. Additionally, four (4) carcasses, plus two (2) sets of tusks were discovered, all presumed to have died of natural causes. Elephants were not the only species to suffer the drought The Lake Jipe area was hardest hit, in part due to competition from illegal livestock. In the immediate vicinity of the lake, the carcasses of 30 zebra, 20 buffalo and 12 assorted antelope were observed in a single flight. On the same flight, a struggling buffalo was found stuck in deep mud on the edge of the lake. The SWT pilot landed and helped organize the buffalo’s rescue with one of the KWS/SWT ground teams stationed nearby.
Livestock incursions, encouraged by fresh grazing in the Park (particularly Tsavo West), were particularly pronounced. Helicopter and fixed wing aircrafts assisted KWS in dealing with incursions in Tsavo West and East. In Tsavo West, thousands of cattle were successfully pushed out of the Park and 11 arrests were made by KWS with aerial support.
Aerial assistance of the SWT/KWS Mobile Veterinary Unit included 4 cases – all unique. Two elephants were initially spotted by our fixed wing pilot, one with a cable snare and the other with an arrow wound. With support from our helicopter, both were successfully darted and treated. On the same day that the snared elephant was treated, another elephant was reported stuck in mud nearby. The helicopter pilot and vet flew to the scene to assist in a successful rescue of the bull elephant. The fourth case unfortunately did not have as happy an ending. A well-known elephant called Balachu had been found in a collapsed state. The helicopter was called to bring additional drugs to the scene to aid his recovery, but unfortunately, despite the vet team’s best efforts, they were unable to revive this majestic bull.
The helicopter was also instrumental in the apprehension of multiple suspects on Galana Ranch. Upon receiving a report of a motorbike being used by bushmeat poachers, the helicopter flew to the scene and followed fresh bike tracks to a bike with three (3) suspects who immediately fled on foot. Since the suspects fled, only one (1) individual was captured on this occasion. However, among the items confiscated were 4 machetes, 3 horns, 6 torches (flashlights), assorted clothes, and 3 pairs of shoes as well as the following carcasses: 32 dik dik, 2 hares, 3 bustards (bird), and 4 sand grouse. A day later, the helicopter once again found itself on Galana Ranch following bicycle tracks to where a bicycle was found stashed in thick brush. Upon landing, foot prints of a suspect fleeing the bicycle were spotted and followed by ground teams while the helicopter provide aerial cover. The foot prints led to the successful apprehension of another suspect and the confiscation of a further 6 dik dik carcasses, 1 bustard, 1 bicycle and more hunting equipment. While in Galana, the helicopter also slung the motorbike out from where it had been discovered the day before as well as a 2nd poachers’ motorbike that was also found.
Logging activity was noted in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and on Galana Ranch. On Galana, this logging was for charcoal burning and has shown a decrease mainly due to inaccessibility caused by recent rains.
One of the most notable events in November was the aerial search and rescue of a young, lost boy who wandered into the wild from his home on the Eastern border of the Park. You can read that story here. Also rescued during the month was a 9 year old snake bite victim from Kone, the next door village to where the lost boy was from, who was medivaced out by SWT Helicopter to a hospital in Mutomo for treatment.
Highlights included a record sighting of 17 rhinos in Tsavo East, as well as the first sighting of a new born rhino in the same area.
Photographs copyright © 2022 The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust