AERIAL SURVEILLANCE UNIT MONTHLY REPORT
JUNE
AERIAL STATISTICS
JUNE 2021
211 HOURS FLOWN
26,672 KMS COVERED
AREAS PATROLLED
Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Kulalu, Galana, Taita, Mbulia, Kishushe and KARI ranches, South Kitui National Reserve, Chyulu Hills National Park, Kimana and Selengei Conservancies.
JUNE 2021
MONTHLY AERIAL PATROL MAP
MONTHLY AERIAL SUMMARY The bulk of flying during the month of June was done in support of the 2021 National Wildlife Census, specifically in the Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA). The TCA is the most significant portion of the census, at least in terms of elephant numbers. Tsavo is expected to account for nearly half of the national total. SWT committed 3 fixed wing aircraft to the TCA wildlife count. This year was a total count of all species the size of a dik-dik and larger. In reality, it is impossible to count every individual, many of which will avoid detection under thick vegetation. Even with elephants, many are expected to go uncounted. However, despite this, regular game counts provide important data on trends. Although the results will not be released until all conservation areas in Kenya have been counted, the trend over the last several counts in the TCA has shown an increase in the elephant population as well as other significant species such as giraffes and buffaloes. Interestingly, two endangered species that are not indigenous to Tsavo, but were introduced to Tsavo as part of conservation efforts, were seen in relative abundance during the count. These are the hirola and the Grevy’s zebra. One SWT pilot alone saw an amazing 58 hirola, which is similar to the total number of hirola previously thought to remain in Tsavo. The same pilot also found 2 fresh elephant carcasses, both with ivory intact and thought to have died of natural causes. Although this may seem alarming, they were the only two fresh/recent carcasses found by any pilot during the count, and a dramatic reduction over the previous count in 2017 when several freshly poached elephants were found by multiple pilots. It is normal during these exercises for several carcasses to be found as a result of such an intensive coverage over such a huge area, and in such a short period of time. Pilots essentially cover every inch of 43,000 square km in just a week. From one count to the next, the methodology remains the same, ensuring consistency of results. All aircraft fly at a fixed altitude above ground of 300 feet with a maximum speed of around 100 mph. They fly along 1km transects covering 600 sq km blocks (20 x 30 km) each day. Pilots and observers aboard each aircraft count wildlife in the 500 m band on either side of the plane. Herds of elephant are circled and photographed to ensure as complete a count as possible, taking time to count baby elephants that may be hiding under their mother’s belly, etc. SWT flew a staggering 12,365 km over 94.3 hours in just 8 days, with the bulk of flying occurring in just 6 days. There were also aircrafts representing Kenya Wildlife Service, who led the exercise, as well as Save the Elephants, Tsavo Trust, and 2 privately owned aircrafts.
In addition to the count there was plenty of other work to keep our pilots busy. Helicopters responded to numerous human-wildlife conflict cases. Most of these were elephants that needed to be pushed back into the Park from densely populated areas. However, our helicopter was also called upon to assist in driving a group of giraffes out of a fenced off portion of Taita Ranch where they had become inadvertently trapped without water. Our previous attempt the month prior was unsuccessful and attempts to provide water for the giraffes just outside of an opened stretch of the fence also proved futile. Fearing that any further delay in escorting the giraffes out of the fence and into the greater ranch where they would be able to access water, KWS sent a section of rangers to remove a larger section of fence and this time the helicopter was able to push 4 out of 5 of the giraffes through the gap. That night, the last giraffe, a juvenile, also made it out of the fence, much to the relief of everyone involved. Unfortunately, we are not always able to intervene in cases of human-wildlife conflict before farmers and/or pastoralists take matters into their own hands. There was an increase in veterinary cases in June, several of which were elephants that had been speared by angry community members. The majority occurred between Chyulu Hills and the greater Amboseli ecosystem and were predominantly bulls. On Selengei Conservancy, an elephant was treated for a 10-inch spear wound on its left foot as well as an infection at the base of the tusk. After being darted from our helicopter, the bull was successfully treated for both injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. Another elephant was first sighted by a SWT ground team in KARI Ranch, also with a spear wound, but this time on its right shoulder. Despite being treated with help from SWT helicopter and the SWT/KWS Mobile Vet Unit, the patient was given a guarded prognosis due to the severity of the infection.
Another elephant, closer to home, was reported by community members with a deep penetrating wound on its leg. The elephant was located with the use of a fixed wing aircraft, while a second fixed wing flew to a remote KWS post to collect the vet who was there on a collaring exercise. Ground teams were also deployed to assist with the treatment of the elephant that was successfully darted from the helicopter. This elephant was also given a guarded prognosis and due to its remote location from any water sources and an inability to move efficiently, a water tank was also provided with water so that it would be able to recuperate in situ before making an arduous trek. In addition to darting from a helicopter, a fixed wing aircraft was also deployed on one occasion to transfer a mobile vet to the site of an injured bull elephant near Kimana Sanctuary, also with a spear wound, this time on the front right leg above the knee. This elephant too was given a guarded prognosis, but we are happy to report that it has been regularly monitored by rangers from Big Life Foundation and as of the time of this writing, the wound has made a remarkable recovery. Though not strictly a veterinary case, our helicopter was also involved in the darting of an elephant that was due to have a tracking collar replaced.
SWT helicopters also responded to two callouts, the first initiated after footprints of suspected rhino poachers were found inside the Tsavo West rhino range. The area was searched intensively, meanwhile ground teams and the SWT/KWS K9 Unit were able to follow tracks to the poachers’ harbour. A second callout involved an emergency case-vac of two of our own. During a confrontation between one of our ground teams and a notorious poacher, who assaulted two of our rangers with a machete. They were losing blood rapidly and so the team made the decision to call for emergency assistance. The helicopter was deployed immediately and flew to landing site that had been cleared by the team as close to the injured rangers as possible. Trained staff provided emergency first aid to stabilise both patients before loading them in the helicopter and flying them to the nearest hospital for professional treatment. Despite previous injuries they have both recovered well and are back at work. Poaching activity detected during aerial patrols included 1 recent shooting blind in Northern Tsavo east and suspected sandalwood harvesting in Chyulu Hills National Park. Other activities supported by the Aerial Unit included assistance of a fixed wing aircraft to locate rhinos for ear notching by KWS to aid in identification. The majority of the exercise was carried out by KWS; however, we assisted on the final day and contributed a final candidate for notching. Patrols were also conducted deep into Galana Ranch, which typically falls outside of our area of operation, yet the SWT has recently established ground operations and is now managing the Galana Wildlife Conservancy, engaged by the GWC Board. Already de-snaring teams are rooting out the extensive bush meat and charcoal trades that have to expanded over the last few years in this area. These efforts on the eastern boundary of the Park will help further secure Tsavo East National Park.
Large numbers of livestock were observed, especially in Tsavo West. With the entire area having dried out and areas around the coast and southern Tsavo having experienced failed rains, we are expecting pressure from livestock to increase dramatically over the next few months and leading up to the November-December rains. Highlights included increased numbers of lion sightings as well as rhino and large concentrations of elephant along the Tiva River, something that just a decade ago was unheard of. In fact, just 2 decades ago there was scarcely a sign of elephants north of the Tiva River.