APU Field Report- March 2020

March was a relatively quiet month for us in the field, although one incident will remain etched in our memory for some time to come. There was a notable increase in bushmeat poaching incidents, with one topi sighted with an arrow embedded in it's head, and a zebra with a spear embedded in it's rear leg. Sadly both sightings were in the late evening and attempts to separate the injured animals from the herd for treatment proved futile. Attempts to find them on the following days were also regrettably, unsuccessful.

On the 16th of March while on routine foot patrol, our rangers came upon a suspect engaging in illegal palm wine harvesting. The suspect immediately attacked our teams with a sharp knife and in the tussle ended up causing injury to himself as one ranger disarmed him. He was taken the hospital for treatment before being booked at the station.

In total, the team issued one warning, made three successful arrests while one suspect escaped. A total of 37 wood posts were confiscated along with five snares, one motorbike, 18 catfish and a knife.

Comments

Celebrating Tango 1 APU: Champions of Conservation in Africa

Dear Supporters, We are elated to share some exciting news from the frontlines of conservation! The Tango 1 Mobile APU Team , operating under Ulinzi Africa Foundation , has been honored as the 1st Runner Up in the Best Ranger Team Category at the African Conservation Awards 2024 . 🌍🏆 This incredible recognition highlights the team’s relentless efforts in safeguarding Kenya’s Tana Delta , a region of extraordinary ecological and cultural significance. As one of the most biodiverse areas in Kenya, the Tana Delta faces constant threats from habitat destruction, wildlife poaching, and human-wildlife conflicts. Through courage, skill, and dedication, Tango 1 has emerged as a beacon of hope for conservation in the region. About the African Conservation Awards The African Conservation Awards, hosted annually by the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa, honor rangers and teams who go above and beyond to protect wildlife and natural habitats. This year, the awards celebrated heroes from acros...

Meeting with Dr. Richard Leakey

Wilbur Smith’s "Elephant Song". I remember the first time I read that book, about 5 years ago. His words cut through my heart like a heated knife through butter. I could imagine it so vividly, I may as well have been there and borne witness to the massacre of the gentle giants we all know as the elephant. I never could finish that book; it was too painful for my heart to bear. Elephants have always had a special place in my heart, as do all wildlife. Something purely magical about each one that I cannot really explain. Having grown up in the eighties, one couldn’t help but be drawn to the politics and controversy surrounding these majestic ‘beasts’ of the African wilderness. I grew up in that time. Hunts were the norm a few years prior, and then, the big one. The ivory ban. Kenya was put on the world map in a gust of flames and a cloud of smoke thick as the canopy of our once great forests. How I remember that day. I was glued to that television like my life was on the line. ...

...Of White Blood.

It is the night of the 18th of July, 2011. 0400hrs, and I have been tossing and turning all night. It is only hours away, and I will be there in person. The Ivory Burn. When I was a little girl, I watched it on the television, and read about it for many years in many books and prints. It moved me. It moulded me. Tonight, it frightens me. I didn’t know back then, that I would live to witness another event of this nature. I didn’t know back then, that I would see the face of its reason. So here I am, wondering what the coming hours will bring. More than anything else, I fear how I will feel. Not too many months ago, I had the honour of assisting Danny Woodley’s team in Tsavo West with some rhino tracking and a census as a volunteer. I learnt a lot from that trip, and saw a lot too. After our day of tracking, I requested to see some of the confiscated trophies from the store. Three rangers unlocked the huge padlock and walked into a very dark room. My heart did not know what to expect. Mi...

From The Frontlines

Search This Blog