Skip to main content

Field Report: May-June 2020 "Building Camp & Chasing Night Poachers"

 


June was a month of rebuilding after returning to the field. The pandemic forced all members of the team to remain at home, observing government protocols to stay safe.

When we finally returned to camp, we found it in a dilapidated condition, and decided to rebuild what we could. With support from partners and friends, we were able to purchase new mattresses and mosquito nets for the whole team, and also metal sheeting which was used to rebuild the long-drop and shower cubicles.

We also worked on the gutter to harvest rainwater for emergencies into our camp 5000-litre tank.


  
Previously the long drop and shower facilities were covered in palm fronds, however due to heavy rains during the floods in the previous month, the structure began to fall apart.


This is what the facilities look like now, with metal sheeting along the sides and the top to protect from the elements!

We have placed the facilities away from the living quarters in a cleared area to also ensure everyone using the facilities has clear walkways especially at night to prevent any encounters with snakes. 

Living next to a waterpan, the presence of frogs during the wet season attracts a lot of snakes, some of them venomous- such as black mambas, cobras and puff adders. We are always wary of this, and our rangers are trained regularly on First Aid lifesaving skills should they need it.

Ulinzi Africa Foundation also has emergency airlift cover for all rangers to ensure evacuation is smoothly executed if needed.



This Machete was recovered from two poachers who unfortunately escaped after targeting a resident zebra herd. 

The torches are attached to bicycle horns and rigged up with up to eight large batteries. When switched on, the siren lets out a shrill sound that stuns the animal completely while the light from the bright torch blinds it. The second poacher, then approaches the victim from the back and slashes it's tendons with a machete, instantly causing it to fall, ready for them to slaughter and harvest the meat.

Bushmeat poaching on a commercial scale is a serious problem in this region and we are working around the clock to try and mitigate it as much as possible together with Kenya Wildlife Service.

There is a saying in Swahili, "Siku za maize ni arubaini." - Translated as every thief has forty days. 

We are confident that these two poachers will be caught soon.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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. ...
9 comments
Read more

Announcement: Ulinzi Africa Foundation Joins the Alliance for Zero Extinction

We are thrilled to announce that Ulinzi Africa Foundation has become a proud member of the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE)!  AZE is a collaborative initiative comprising biodiversity conservation organisations from around the globe, dedicated to preventing extinctions by identifying, safeguarding, and effectively conserving critical sites that serve as the last refuges for Endangered or Critically Endangered species. In our area of operation, the endangered Coastal Topi is under severe threat due to habitat loss and poaching for bushmeat. These majestic creatures are facing a precarious future, and our partnership with AZE is a significant step towards raising the profile of this declining species and their habitat.  By joining forces with AZE, we are committed to enhancing our conservation strategies and leveraging global expertise to safeguard the Coastal Topi and other endangered species. This partnership is crucial for driving impactful conservation actions, and we than...
Post a Comment
Read more