Hwange Anti-Poaching Project
2009 Summary
Anti-poaching efforts over the last year have been increased - with 5.5 patrols conducted per month in 2009 compared to an average of 3.7 patrols in 2008. The increase in patrols makes it possible to cover larger areas, and regular patrols are a huge deterrent against poaching. Having this increased presence in the field has had positive results with a total of 172 snares removed from the field in 2009, compared to 87 in 2008.
Although anti-poaching efforts are yielding rewarding results, a reactive approach also needs to be implemented in the Park. Therefore Hwange Coordinator, Jaelle Claypole, has undertaken a Dangerous Drugs Course to obtain her Chemical and Physical Capture of Wildlife Licence, thanks to Trust funding. The overall objective is to have a qualified person with such knowledge based in the south-eastern corner of Hwange National Park to treat snared animals rapidly and appropriately.
Jaelle, in collaboration with the anti-poaching unit in the area and various guides, is now on standby at all times in the case of a snared animal being reported, particularly in the dry season during which time there is an increase in the level of snaring.
September 2008
A brief report on poaching hot-spots was compiled, and revealed the following. The graph below shows that the top poaching months are during the dry season, being from May through to October, with September being the month with the highest poaching activity. It must be taken into consideration that the results below show that poaching activity in the wet season is fairly low in comparison to the dry season. This may be due to the fact that surface water is available and poachers will more than likely set up traps and snares closer to the game fence and their village due to the availability of surface water being widespread Animals will also be more spread out with food and water being available in all places. This still means that majority of snares nonetheless are still being found in the dry season, and possibly still cause a higher threat to the animals due to their high concentration around targeted sights . In the wet seasons it is also known that villagers will spend a large amount of time in their fields, and therefore less poaching will occur in these months.
The two areas where the majority of snares have been found since 2003 are the Wexcau area which is approximately 10km from the game fence and the closest villages being Zandile and Nganayana. The other heavily targeted area is Hwahwadu which is approximately 6.5km from the game fence with the nearest village being Ziga.
The anti-poaching team continues to conduct regular patrols along the eastern boundary of the park, finding a number of snares in September. Other anti-poaching news includes the arrest of 2 poachers! They were taken to Sipepa Police and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. Well done to the Anti-Poaching team!
May 2008
It has been some time now that we have suspected poaching activity in the Forestry area adjacent to the Ngamo Plains area after one female was seen trapped in a wire snare and was later successfully darted and freed. This is the area where three of the newly released rhino cows have found it quiet enough for them to settle, away from the greater concentrations of elephant and buffalo. From previous anti-poaching expeditions in surrounding areas there had been much evidence of consistent poaching activity in this area. We contacted the Forestry office in Dete to try and arrange a patrol in this area. With a little logistical trouble we finally managed to get the patrol together. We collected the Forestry scouts in Dete and after a briefing by myself and Camp Manager Khule Ndlovu at Linkwasha Camp the team - consisting of Forestry scouts, National Parks scouts and Samson Tshabalala the Wilderness Safaris anti-poaching head - set off to set up a camp from which they would work. The programme was to last for at least 3 to 4 days.
During this time the team arrested 6 poachers with many weapons including spears as well as a number of wire snares amounting to more than 20. Our suspicions were correct on the activity in this area as huge amounts of evidence were found. The poachers arrested were also found with a python skin which they had killed. The poachers arrested were sentenced to two years in prison. Anti-poaching efforts in the area are still being carried out for the protection of all animal species and not just the endangered rhino. Wexau anti-poaching camp is complete with running water so that game scouts can stay here during their patrols. A few small construction details need to be taken care of in order to make it a permanent base.
March 2008
In a recent anti-poaching operation carried out in the forested area of the Ngamo Plains, six poachers were arrested and were found to have killed a python as well.
2006 roundup:
During 2006 our efforts in assisting the park rangers resulted in the removal of 110 snares from the south-eastern boundary of the park during a period of 4 months. We apprehended and assisted in the arrest of several poachers and recovered approximately 30 carcasses and destroyed numerous poachers' bases.
July 2006 - waterbuck adventure
Shelley Mitchley
At the beginning of the month, we were able to dart and remove a wire snare from one of our resident female waterbuck. Having a target around her tail made for easier aim and after being darted, she fought the drug for a good 10 minutes by running from Somavundla Pan through thick Terminalia scrubland and nearly ending up at Little Somavundla Pan! Fortunately, she collapsed in the middle of the road before reaching Little Som and we were able to remove the wire from her neck, cool her down with bucketfuls of water and give her the recovery drug, which got her on her feet again and running towards Ngweshla! We saw her the next evening, reunited with her herd under the boardwalks in camp - looking much happier!
During 2006 our efforts in assisting the park rangers resulted in the removal of 110 snares from the south-eastern boundary of the park during a period of 4 months. We apprehended and assisted in the arrest of several poachers and recovered approximately 30 carcasses and destroyed numerous poachers' bases.
July 2006 - waterbuck adventure
Shelley Mitchley
At the beginning of the month, we were able to dart and remove a wire snare from one of our resident female waterbuck. Having a target around her tail made for easier aim and after being darted, she fought the drug for a good 10 minutes by running from Somavundla Pan through thick Terminalia scrubland and nearly ending up at Little Somavundla Pan! Fortunately, she collapsed in the middle of the road before reaching Little Som and we were able to remove the wire from her neck, cool her down with bucketfuls of water and give her the recovery drug, which got her on her feet again and running towards Ngweshla! We saw her the next evening, reunited with her herd under the boardwalks in camp - looking much happier!
October 2005 - Elephant Unwired!
Written by Shelley Mitchley
A young elephant cow, approximately 6 years old, was seen in the confines of Makalolo Camp, carrying a multiple wire snare on her back left leg. The snare had infected her foot and seemed to be causing her minor discomfort. During her visit to the camp, she was seen drinking from various bird baths and made herself feel quite at home as she swaggered under the boardwalks, making her way around the back of camp and amongst the staff houses. Despite her wound, she seemed very relaxed. On the afternoon of 15 October 2005, the "Wilderness Animal Rescue Team" prepared to dart and de-snare the young elephant.
The appropriate drugs needed to immobilise and recover the young animal were carefully calculated and measured into syringes. The darting gun was loaded with a bright pink flight and dart containing the immobilisation drug. A large bucket containing an assortment of brown bottles filled with antiseptic lotions and emulsions, wire cutters and latex gloves was ready to go.
Staff of Makalolo Camp, armed with large containers of water and the first aid bucket followed the snared elephant through the bush and into the car park, watching as the dart gun was raised a few metres away from behind the animal. A snapping sound signalled the release of the dart and the little elephant took to the bush with a bright pink dart in her hindquarters!
It took a few minutes for the drug to get into the elephant's system but eventually her steps became slow and she collapsed with a thud in the middle of a sand road behind a staff house. Everyone was at her side immediately - the dart was removed and she was placed in a comfortable position on her side. Her exposed eye was covered and shaded by her ear and she was drenched with bottles of water whilst the lips of her trunk were held open as her breathing was monitored.
As soon as the wire cutters broke through the multiple strands of wire on her foot, she was released from the painful encumbrance. In the minutes that followed, her wound was duly treated and squirted with hydrogen peroxide and various antiseptics, all the while observing her breathing and keeping her body moist with buckets of water, in order to regulate her body temperature.
She was injected with the recovery drug and everybody involved in the de-snaring process watched as she flicked her ears and made a few roly-poly attempts to try and stand up! After a couple of minutes, she managed to stagger onto her feet. She finally waddled off into the sunset, without so much as a glance behind her to see the jovial and satisfied Wilderness Animal Rescue Team bidding her farewell!
Darting carried out by Courteney Johnson (certified Drugs & Darting)
Assisted by pro-guide Belinda Whittall & staff of Makalolo Camp
28th July 2004
A quick note to give you the latest on the darting at Linkwasha. A few days ago a male elephant calf, about three years old, was spotted making its way to Ostrich Pan with a huge cable snare on its right front leg. We rushed out there and must have waited at the waterhole for about 30 minutes before the small herd (approx. 20 animals) came out of the tree line and made their way down to the water. We loaded up a dart (with anaesthetic M-99) and then approached the herd as they were wallowing on the one side of the Pan. We managed to get about 20 yards from the calf and placed the dart perfectly into its rump.
Immediately the herd rushed out of the mud, ran about 40 yards, then all bunched together with the injured calf towards the middle. They stood like this for a few minutes and soon other members of the herd found the dart in the youngster's rump. One of the adults actually pulled the now empty dart out and started to chew it! The bright tail flight fell off at this stage and another really small calf started to play with it. After 6 minutes the injured calf started to stagger around, a little wobbly on its feet, and just on 7 minutes it fell over. As soon as this happened everyone in the herd, except the mother, took off at top speed! The mother knelt down and tried many times to lift the calf with her long tusks. After failing a few times she then reversed up to the calf and started to kick the calf in the head with its back feet! This is when we moved in with the two Land Rovers boxing the mother out. The snare was about 2 inches deep!
After some struggling we managed to get it off with some bolt cutters, cleaned the wound out with Hydrogen Peroxide and then applied Wound Oil and Powder to keep the flies off. We also gave the calf a few jabs of antibacterial and then 'reversed' him with M5050 and Naltrexone. We backed off with the vehicles to give him some space and within three minutes he was up and walking off to join the herd. He was spotted two days later with the herd and seems to be doing fine.
In the last week another two elephant have been seen with snares in the concession. We are on the lookout for these animals and hope to be able to dart and remove them soon. From now until the rains is the time when most of the snared animals are seen as they come from miles to the waterholes in our concession. Great news is that we have also now received 3 vials of M-99!
Regards
Courteney
