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: r.moller@lewa.org

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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

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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.

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Poached elephant carcass‐Ewaso Nyiro River

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.