Archive for the ‘Kenya News’ Category
Born Free Kenya’s Victor Mutumah reports on a distressing but ultimately successful de-snaring mission in Kenya:
Before the end of a very eventful year, our anti-poaching and outreach team travelled to the Naivasha area for the last time this calendar year. As usual, our great partners, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), were happy to receive us, and together with our team of volunteers drawn from Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, we started our operations. It is during the festive period that poaching activities rise, making it important for all of us and particularly KWS to work round the clock.
While on our patrols on our second day in Naivasha, we spotted a zebra in great pain dragging a snare with its front right leg. We had just lifted 15 snares in the same area. Clearly this zebra must have suffered for several days and was on the verge of giving up. We contacted the ever supportive KWS Vet team in Nairobi. They needed transport urgently to help and the Born Free office in Nairobi was on hand to provide a Land Rover within hours. We continued with our patrols while monitoring the injured zebra, spotting three more injured zebras and an adult female giraffe.
By midday, Dr. Kariuki of KWS and his active capture and treatment team arrived in time to start giving the injured animals a second chance. The injured giraffe with her clearly caring calf in tow made an attempt to get away from our Land Rover, but soon we had her tranquilized and ready for treatment. Just like our other operations, we had to use a rope to bring the tall animal down carefully and safely. The giraffe had managed to shake off the snare but one of her other legs had what Dr. Kariuki described as a minor joint dislocation and tissue injury. After treatment, the giraffe was back on her feet, still with a limp but hopefully not for long. The re-union with her calf was a particularly happy moment, not only for the two animals but for all of our team members. We watched the two giraffe gradually join the rest of the family and we wished them well!
We quickly changed gears and focused on the zebras; starting with those evidently in serious suffering. The first zebra was almost giving up; it could hardly move, making it very easy for the vet to sedate it. The sight of the injured animal was disturbing, not to mention the smell from the now rotting section of the leg. Despite this sad sight, we were pleased to know that the poachers responsible for putting up snares in this area had been arrested a few days ago. It took a while to get the visibly huge winch wire capable of towing a Land Rover off the now sedated zebra.
We had a light moment when we all agreed to hold down the second zebra since we thought she was too weak to be sedated. We all took positions, approached the sleeping zebra and as soon as she felt some hands on her back, she quickly got up taking us by surprise. Steve our driver proved to be the fastest of us all as we all took to our heels! I reckon Steve could give some of our leading athletes a run for their money. The zebra was soon on the ground and the snare removed before the cleaning of the wound and administering of the antibiotics.
The third zebra proved more elusive, being naturally camouflaged, and we had to call off the operation since it was getting dark. At 6am the following morning, we were all up looking for the third zebra and the injured animal successfully received the Vet’s attention before mid-afternoon.
"This dramatic rescue was Born Free’s Christmas gift to individual animals in peril. These animals would probably not have survived into 2012 had the dedicated BF Kenya team not been there to help. Many people are already on holiday at this time of year, but I am proud to be part of a team that puts the animals first" said Iregi Mwenja, Born Free Kenya Manager.
As we come close to the end of the year, we thank all our partners, supporters and donors who make our work possible. Next year, we will once again keep you posted on our work in the Kenyan bush.
–Victor Mutumah, Programmes Officer
Devastating news just received by the Born Free Foundation reports that approximately 2 tonnes of elephant ivory tusks have been impounded by customs authorities at Port Klang in Malaysia, en route from Mombasa in Kenya to Sihanoukville in Cambodia.
Where the ivory was ultimately destined for has not been confirmed, and we can only conjecture. Thailand, with its renowned and thriving carving industry could have been the next port of call after Cambodia, and perhaps then on to China, to supply its booming ivory market. The ivory may have been routed through any number of other countries – but the likelihood of China being its final end point is high, given widespread recognition that the country is the single largest destination for illicit ivory in the world.
Such enormous consignments of ivory are, experts unanimously agree, the hallmark of organized international criminal syndicates. This year 13 seizures, an average of just over one seizure per month, have involved over a tonne of ivory being smuggled across international borders. Four of these, taking place over the course of just 12 days in late August/early September netted approximately 3,194 tusks, representing at least 1,774 dead elephants.
So far this year, an absolute minimum of 30.3 tonnes of elephant ivory have been seized worldwide, equivalent to over 5,100 dead elephants. Much more ivory is suspected to make it through to the end ‘consumers’, so one wonders: what is the real figure of elephants dying for the sake of ornaments, trinkets and chopsticks and when will the bloodshed end?
To learn more and show your opposition to the illegal ivory trade visit www.bloodyivory.org
Victor Mutumah of Born Free Kenya reports on the rescue of a giraffe found with an arrow in its shoulder:
"Just before our latest outreach mission in the Machakos area of Kenya, we received information from one of our partners in the Maanzoni area, Steve Tankard, that a male giraffe had been spotted with an arrow stuck in the shoulder area of its left leg. We sent some of our team members to join the Twiga Retreat / Maanzoni rangers to keep an eye on the poor giraffe as we sent word to the Kenya Wildlife Service vet headquarters.
While we waited for the KWS vet to arrive, we proceeded with our scheduled community outreach session which ended slightly earlier than usual so that we could go and assist the injured giraffe. We then drove to the Lukenya area where the giraffe had been spotted. As usual, driving off-road in sticky wet black soil is never easy but our Land Rovers always do us proud!
It took the KWS vet, Dr. Limo, and the capture team slightly over two hours to reach us. The giraffe was clearly tense, it was standing beside, a deep gully stretching over a kilometer, meanwhile darkness was closing in and rain was threatening to pour. We had our work cut out!
Once the vet was ready, we tried to get close to the giraffe. With some of us ensuring that the giraffe kept off the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway, others kept it away from the Lukenya-quarry road and yet another group tried to block it from the gully. The KWS vet was in hot pursuit with his sedation kit and medicine bag at the ready.
The many shrubs, acacias, tree stumps, holes, rocks and the generally uneven ground were not helping our efforts, and sudden pounding rain added to the drama. Thankfully the heavens shut for a while leaving us with as much as we could manage!
The vet’s first attempt missed the animal but this did not discourage us. After a third attempt the giraffe begun to wobble but continued to stay on its feet . After consultations with the vet and KWS team, we agreed to aid bringing the giraffe down using ropes. Once on the ground, our Land Rovers surrounded the giraffe, shining as much light as possible to aid the exercise as it was now completely dark. Our Land Rovers have always made our work easier!
After removing the arrow, which was about six inches inside the shoulder area, the vet proceeded to clean the wound by using iodine, hydrogen peroxide and other cleaning agents. We were shocked to see that maggots that had already created a home in the poor giraffe’s flesh! The vet then used several antibiotic sprays, amoxicillin and lots more to aid the recovery process. It was comforting to note that the arrow at least had not been smeared in poison.
The giraffe was now ready to be woken up. “Let go”, Dr. Limo roared as everyone let the giraffe go and retreated to a safe distance. Watching the giraffe gradually get on its four feet and disappear into the darkness gave us a sense of satisfaction.
After a cold drink offered by Mr. Tankard to the seventeen people involved in the exercise it was time to take a much deserved rest."