A HEAVILY PREGNANT ELEPHANT KILLED IN AMBOSELI

It takes 24 months to have a baby elephant, and just one day for a retard poacher to take its life and that of its mother… a heavily pregnant elephant killed in Amboseli yesterday. 

Via Amboseli Trust for Elephants: " A sad day in Amboseli- Yesterday we received report of an elephant spearing just outside the National Park, our team went out to ID the elephant and found that it was a member of the TD Family called Tanwira. She was only a young 14 year old female and heavily pregnant (see picture Tanwira lay at a far and the calf close), carrying her first calf who was only days away from being born. We found the calf and mother a short distance from one another, as hyenas had dragged the calf away from her womb. She died from a spear wound to the heart. The team from Big Life are working hard to capture those who carried out this vicious attack." Source: https://www.facebook.com/AmboseliElephant

OF ELEPHANT AND RHINO POACHING; THE PAIN AND POACHERS

The pain an Elephant or Rhino has to endure to have its tusk or horn cut/removed by a poacher is out of this world. Poachers have graduated from use of arrows, pangas and snares to now power saws, grenades and sophisticated guns on choppers. 

Militants such as Janjaweed are said to benefit immensely from poaching. One day, they are alleged to have killed 26elephants in Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic. 

Kenya's no different as this week Dr.Leakey (Wildlife Direct founder) claimed that 25 Government officials in the Jubilee Government are engaged in illegal animal tusks trade. As much as the new anti-poaching law appears tough to an average poacher, it could be a walk in the park for poaching bigwigs, particularly if the Ksh.20M fine is to go by, given the fact that 6kg of rhino tusks can fetch about ksh.25M. 

However, a life sentence to a convicted poacher can turn a few tables if often applied. 2012, 2013 and 2014 have been the bloodiest years Africa conservation has seen.

 
Here is my 2bob collection of Poaching incidents in Africa the last 2Years:

 
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2014/03/wildlife-poaching-in-kenya-2014.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-pregnant-elephant-loses-life-to.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/11/suspected-poachers-killed-in-laikipia.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/another-black-rhino-loses-life-to.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/09/41-elephants-poisoned-by-poachers-in.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/06/another-elephant-killed-save-elephant.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/05/poachers-kill-26-elephants-at-sanctuary.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/05/breaking-biggest-elephant-massacres-in.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/04/gruesome-tragedy-as-another-elephant.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/breaking-news-from-bangkok.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/thai-prime-minister-pledges-to-end.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2012/09/world-rhino-day.html

KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE STATEMENT ON STATUS OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

" March 18, 2014 - A suspected poacher was this morning (Monday March 18, 2014) at 1.45 am shot dead in Lake Nakuru National Park while two of his accomplices escaped. The body was taken to the mortuary in Nakuru and assorted weapons, including a bow, four poisoned arrows, spear and food, taken by police. 

Kenya Wildlife Service acting Director General Mr William Kiprono flew to the scene of crime in Lake Nakuru National Park where he addressed journalists and KWS staff. He was accompanied by Mr Francis Kirathe, County AP Commander, Mr Mohammed Birik the County Commissioner and Mr Mbogo County CID boss.

Mr Kiprono noted that Lake Nakuru was one of the most hit by poaching of rhinos, having lost four since the beginning of the year.  Vigilant KWS rangers responded swiftly and recovered horns from three of them while poachers took away one horn. 

At national level, 16 rhinos have been lost, with 13 killed by poachers and three due to natural causes. Last year, Kenya lost a total of 59 rhinos. Thirty elephants have been poached since January this year compared 302 elephants in the whole of last year (2013). These statistics point to an emerging appetite of rhinos horns for an estimated population of 1,036 in the country. However, there is a decline of elephant poaching numbers from 384 in 2012 to 302 elephants in 2013. 

KWS has laid out strategies to counter the runaway poaching for these species and general protection of all wildlife landscapes. KWS has created and equipped a Rapid Deployment Unit to provide support to ranger teams in areas thought to be highly vulnerable including conservancies that host endangered species. This team will join the inter-agency anti-poaching crack unit that was deployed in Narok, Tsavo and Isiolo. 

41 ELEPHANTS POISONED BY POACHERS IN ZIMBABWE

41 Elephants were poisoned by poachers at Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, an official told BBC. Carol Washaya Moyo, the Zimbabwe Parks spokesperson broke the news saying cyanide was used to poison salt pans although tests are going on. This has been termed as the worst elephant poaching case in Zimbabwe.

While talking to BBC's Focus on Africa programme, Ms. Washaya Moyo confirmed that five suspected poachers had been arrested.

Elephant and rhino poaching has been on the rise in parks in Africa and is attributed to the rise in the demand for tusks and horns in Asia. These horns and tusks are used in traditional medicine in Asia although scientists say such medicine has no beneficial properties.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has warned that the poisoned carcasses posed great danger to any animal or human and urged people living near Hwange National Park not to touch or eat meat from any dead animal they find.

IMRE LOEFLER LECTURE || BATTLE FOR THE ELEPHANTS BY DR PAULA KAHUMBU

Organised By The East African Wild Life Society & Karen Country Club || Wednesday 12th June 2013. Paula Kahumbu, the CEO of WildlifeDirect, heading the campaign to end the slaughter of Elephants across Africa by creating awareness, will first introduce the film. This hour-long film Battle for the Elephants explores the brutal slaughter of African elephants for their tusks, fueled largely by China’s demand for ivory. This groundbreaking National Geographic special goes undercover to expose the criminal network behind ivory's supply and demand.

It also demonstrates how the elephant, with its highly evolved society, keen intelligence, ability to communicate across vast distances and to love, remember and even mourn, is far more complex than ever imagined.

 

Time

6.30pm –Welcome glass of Wine

7.00pm – Lecture Start

8.30pm – Dinner

Charges

Lecture and Dinner – Kes.2200

Lecture – Kes. 1000

For more information contact:

EAWLS Rose Tel: 3874145 / 0722 202473

Email: rose.events@eawildlife.org

Karen Country Club Stephen Kifuso Tel: 38828012/2 or 0733 606950

Email: kifuso@karen.or.ke

 

THE ELEPHANT

Swahili Name:           Ndovu or Tembo

Maasai Name:           Oltome

Scientific Name:        Loxodonta Africana

Height:                      2.5m to 4m

Weight:                     Male – 5 to 6 Tonnes, Female – 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes

Lifespan:                   60 years

Gestation Period:      22 months; have one young

Length of Tusks:       3.5m

Food:                       Herbivore; eats 200kg a day; drinks up to 300 liters of water.

It is a huge mammal characterized by a long muscular snout and two long, curved tusks. The elephant is highly intelligent and strong. It is the largest land animal and among the longest lived, with life spans of 60 years or more. A healthy, full-grown elephant have no natural enemies other than humans.

In Thailand, India and other Southeast Asian countries, elephants are highly revered and honored therefore beautifully decorated and very important in traditional religious ceremonies. According to the National Geographic, over the past 40 million years, more than 600 species of elephants have roamed the earth. Today only three species remain—the savanna elephant and the forest elephant of Africa, and the Asian elephant.

An Elephant at Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary

The elephant remains endangered with highly decreasing numbers from 5 million to 10 million at the turn of 20^th century to 400,000 to 500,000 at the end of the same century. The decline is attributed to widespread hunting-cum-poaching and destruction of their habitat.

In Kenya alone, efforts to conserve this mammal started in 1972 when Cynthia Moss founded the African Wildlife Foundation’s Amboseli Elephant Research Project. Since then, Moss has documented the complex social interactions of more than 1,600 elephants, greatly broadening the scientific understanding of these magnificent creatures. She has published her research in a number of books that highlight the plight of endangered elephants and the need for extensive conservation efforts if these animals are to survive.

Sources: National Geographic || AWF || Mwaluganje ElephantSanctuary

THE BIG FIVE

I bumped into a kid born in the mid first decade of this new millennium and asked her to name me Kenya’s Big Five. Her answers were just amazing and hilarious.  One was a Jumbo Jet, second was Mt.Kenya, Third Thika road… *head scratch* oops! Could not even complete her own big five list. I’d not blame her because; I also came to quote the big five confidently after I joined campus.

 Here are the ‘Big Five’:

• Lion - Simba
• Leopard - Chui
• Elephant - Ndovu/Tembo
• Buffalo - Mbogo
• Rhino – Kifaru

LION

The most famous predator in this category is the lion. The largest of the great cats in Africa, they spend a lot resting in the shade. When the pride goes off to look for food at dusk or dawn, it is mostly the female who does all the hunting. Sometimes, males drive the prey towards the concealed females who then do the actual killing. They live on the savannahs in prides of one to three males and up to 15 females. Young cubs enjoy a lot bugging their moms.

                                                            Lions basking

LEOPARD

The leopard lives a solitary life except during the mating season. The beauty of the dark spots against the rich gold background belie the power these cats can muster if necessary, and it is indeed very hard to find them. Generally considered nocturnal, the best place to find them is in rocky hills, high in tree branches or in the thick woodland brushes. They drag their kill to the top of a tree where they can be assured that no scavenger will find. 

ELEPHANT

An elephant can live up to between 60 to 70 years and eats vast amounts of green material to survive daily. Elephants roam in close knit herds with the matriarch in charge. Younger and older bulls live alone, away from the herd. These large beasts flap their ears to cool themselves. When ear flapping is combined with snorting however, it’s usually a sign of agitation and a good time to put some distance between you and them. Elephants communicate with each other with a number of sounds and over long distances. They can quickly adapt from open plains to thick forests and are constantly on the move for food and shelter.

                                                          Elephants at a water point

BUFFALO

The African buffalo has a bad temper reputation if disturbed. The huge ox-like creatures have some very heavy, dangerous horns and have no shame in using them to get rid of any kind of pest, humans included. They can easily be spotted near water and also in Savannah areas, like the Masai Mara. Large herds gather on open grasslands and smaller groups tend to congregate in thick forest. They are also known to chase Lions seeking to prey on their young ones and it is an incredible event to witness.

                                                                Buffalo grazing

RHINO

There are two rhino species, the black and the white. Both species are extremely rare. Their habitats vary from dense forest to open scrub where they feed on the leaves of bushes and trees. They lack good eyesight but have excellent sense of smell and hearing. Their lifespan is 35 to 40 years and weigh up to 2 tons. Both the black and white rhino have two horns, of which, the longer sits at the front of the nose. The closest rhino relationship is between a female and her calf, lasting from 2 to 4 years.

For more pics and info on the ‘BIG FIVE’ and other ‘small many’ visit AWF