1

Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora

MIKEMIKE

M IKE is a Range State Program me

authorised by the CITES Parties at CoP 11

to start im plem entation under

Conf. Res. 10.10 Rev

To provide information needed for elephant range States to make appropriate m anagement and enforcem ent decisions, and to build institutional capacity w ithin the range States for the long-term m anagem ent of their elephant populations.

M ore specific objectives within this aim are:

To m easure levels and trends in the illegal hunting of elephants

To determine changes in these trends over tim e

To determine the factors causing such changes and to assess to w hat extent observed trends are related to CITES changes in listings or ivory trade resum ptions

NB This process can be readily expanded into a multi-species programm e, particularly if the capacity developm ent is successfu l

Purpose of MIKEPurpose of MIKE

These objectives will be achieved by

1. Undertaking Site-based Population Surveys every 2 to3 years, so that we can determine if the populations arechanging.

2. Undertaking Law Enforcement Monitoring todetermine• any real trends in illegal activities (Ground Patrols)• the factors that may be influencing any declines(Carcass Reports, etc.)

3. Undertaking data analysis (including Monthly andAnnual Reports), starting at the sites

Purpose of MIKEPurpose of MIKE

What MIKE is and what MIKE is not MIKE is a site-based system to monitor elephant population trends and the illegal killing of elephants

MIKE is a system based on data collection and analysis that will be standardised for all range states, including the time frame for the delivery of such information

MIKE is about capacity building, particularly at the national level, for more effective conservation management

MIKE is designed to use the current state of the art in monitoring techniques and data management

MIKE is not, in itself, an anti-poaching operation to stop the illegal killing of elephants, though the information MIKE produces may guide such effort

MIKE is not a monitoring system advocating a particular model or system.

M IK EM IK E

The data analysis inter-relationships that MIKE will be particularly addressing are:

population trends patterns of illegal killing patterns of influencing factors patterns of effort

Population Surveys

Population SurveysPopulation Surveys

.

SUCH SURVEYS HELP TO ESTABLISH WHETHER ANY POPULATION IS STABLE OR DECLINING,

PARTICULARLY IF UNDERTAKEN ON A REGULAR 2-3 YEAR CYCLE

IT IS RECOGNISED THAT ASIAN CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO REQUIRE OTHER METHODOLOGIES TO

BE CONSIDERED, COMPARED TO THE AFRICAN APPROACH. THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING

MALES IN PARTICULAR AND MALE/FEMALE RATIOS IS ALSO RECOGNISED.

Law Enforcement Monitoring

LEM LEM

Monitoring Law enforcement is important for 2 reasons:

Law enforcement is a deterrent to poaching and has an important impact on illegal killing and so needs to be taken into account when comparing rates of killing.

LEM provides information that site managers can use to determine optimum allocation of resources and so help improve protection and management of elephants

LEM LEM

The LEM work is based on the existing patrol personnel keeping a systematic record of where they go and what they find.

In addition, all elephant carcasses, whether located in a site or outside it, whether found on patrol or otherwise, are requested to be reported on, as this data provides information on why elephants are being killed.

This work is based on the use of standard forms and field protocols, and is facilitated by the use of GPSs.

Field FormsField Forms

LEM Forms •Ground Patrol Forms

Provides information on patrol effort and observations encountered

•Carcass FormsProvides information on elephant deaths and possible causes (not restricted to patrols)

•Monthly ReportsSummarises the information collected during the month

•Annual ReportsSummarises the monthly information and details other factors that may have contributed to illegal killing

THESE CAN BE ADAPTED TO BETTER SUIT ASIAN NEEDS

Influencing Factors

List of possible influencing factors.

Factors Site National and/orSub-regional

Ecosystem type/habitat X XElephant population levels XElephant/human conflict levels X XAdjacent land use XHuman access X XHuman population pressure X XAvailability of water X XLand tenure systems X XDevelopment activities X XTourism activities X XHistory of illegal killing X XProximity to international borders XCross-border incursions X XCivil/military conflict X XLaw enforcement effort levels X XJudicial severity XCorruption XIllegal drug/arms trafficking XIvory trade patterns XCITES trade decisions X X

Effort

SECTOR 12 SECTOR 11

Patrol effort (fraction of area covered * patrol days)

Patrol effort (fraction of area covered * patrol days)

Observations illegal activities (“catch”)

Patrol effort and “catch” in 2 Patrol effort and “catch” in 2 management sectorsmanagement sectors

0

50

100

150

April May June July0

50

100

150

April May June July

Observations illegal activities (“catch”)

Hum

an s

ign

Hum

an s

ign

Eff

ort i

ndex

Eff

ort i

ndex

Catch / effort index per month in 2 Catch / effort index per month in 2 management sectorsmanagement sectors

Catch / Effort Index sector 12 Catch / Effort Index sector 11

0

20

40

60

80

100

April May June July0

20

40

60

80

100

April May June July

Cat

ch/E

ffor

t ind

ex

Cat

ch/E

ffor

t ind

ex

How Discovered

3% 14%

82%

0%

1% Aerial Census

Ground Patrol

Intelligence

Research

Tourist

Cause of Death

32%

12%38%

18%Unknown

Conflict

Poached

Natural

Year of Death

48%

25%

13%

14% 2002

2001

2000

pre 2000

Poaching Risk Assessment

High Risk Zone

Lower Risk Zone

Data Analysis

Data AnalysisData Analysis

The data required per site and the data collected will be placed in a computer-based data management system that will facilitate the analysis of the data provided and produce the expected outputs.

Of particular importance will be the capability to commence the analysis at site level and then to develop the analysis further at national, sub-regional and continental levels, whilst maintaining a standardised approach as illustrated in figure 1.

Figure 1: Data management and data flow

SITE Population survey data

LEM Spatial geographic,environmental and socio-economic data

Subsidiary data

Database / GIS Site level analysis

Summary statistics, monthly and annual

reportsReports Raw data

National database/GIS

Central database / GIS Regional/Global analysis

National analysisCOUNTRY

SUBREGION

CONTINENT

Sites

SitesSites

MIKE is intended to ascertain what is happening on the ground. It would be impossibe to cover the whole elephant range from the outset. MIKE is therefore based on a sample

approach, using enough sites to provide that sample.

But, resources permitting, many range states will be and are striving to extend MIKE processes to other significant sites, particularly as national and sub-regional trends and patterns

will also be important MIKE objectives.

SitesSites

Sites should therefore be prioritised, using the influencing factor table and the situations that

prevail in each range state.

Institutional Arrangement

Institutional Arrangem entsInstitutional Arrangem ents

SUBREGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEES

(SOUTH ASIA)

MIKETAG

MIKE

CENTRAL

COORDINATION

UNIT

STANDING

COMMITTEE

MIKE

SUBGROUP

CITESSECRETARIAT

CITESCOP

Institutional Arrangem entsInstitutional Arrangem ents

STEERING COMMITTEESouth Asia

CENTRAL

COORDINATION

UNIT

Site Officers Site Officers Site OfficersSite OfficerSite Officer

National Officer

Nepal

National Officer

Bhutan

National Officer

India

National Officer

Bangladesh

National Officer

Sri Lanka

SUPPORT

OFFICER

SUBREGIONAL