Challenges, Solutions, Hopes JULY 2005 - JUNE 2011 © IFAW/A

Home , Tsavo, Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park

TSAVO Challenges, Solutions, Hopes JULY 2005 - JUNE 2011 © IFAW/A. Mwazo © IFAW/A. © IFAW/D.Willetts © IFAW/D.Willetts

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IFAW works to improve the welfare of wild and © IFAW/D.Willetts © IFAW/D.Willetts domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress.

We seek to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people. © IFAW/D.Willetts Message from James Isiche © IFAW/D.Willetts

Tsavo: A Worthy will continue to threaten Investment Tsavos’ elephants and other In 2005, an Associated Press endangered species. For as reporter filed an ominous long as human populations dispatch from Nairobi: and poverty levels rise, for “Everyone wants a piece of as long as land-use around Kenya’s national parks: the the Tsavo Parks remains Somali herdsman in search unplanned, vital wildlife of pasture for his cattle; the dispersal areas and migration villager hunting antelope; routes will be lost whilst the Tanzanian entrepreneur bushmeat trade and human- seeking a rare plant; and, of elephant conflicts will escalate. course, ivory poachers.” Most poignant, perhaps, is re-energised search for new information by researchers Looking back, it is amazing the threat posed by climate continuously improves to see how much we have change. How will Tsavo come planning for conservation and achieved in the past six years to terms with the imminent management practices. of our joint partnership with ecosystem change and habitat KWS. IFAW has invested in damage unless we make IFAW could not have done this 20 four-wheel drive vehicles critical and pragmatic decisions without the endearing goodwill for anti-poaching and law today and implement them and giving spirit of supporters enforcement operations, accordingly, and with speed? worldwide, even during these human-wildlife conflict Tsavo, therefore, stands at difficult and challenging resolution, park administration, crossroads. A giant of an economic times. community education and ecosystem, home to one outreach initiatives, and of Africa’s largest elephant There, however, will always ecological monitoring and herds, it still grapples with the be a KWS ranger keeping research. challenges of old even as new threats loom on the horizon. lonesome vigil in the remote fringes of Tsavo, watching By building elephant-proof over elephants, looking out for fences, supporting education These challenges, however, poachers. With your support, programmes and income- cannot obscure IFAW’s that ranger will never stand generating projects compatible contribution to Tsavo. With alone. with wildlife conservation for our support, the rangers neighbouring communities, and wardens have protected IFAW has boosted livelihoods elephants from poachers, and helped ease human and moved rapidly to resolve pressure on Tsavo, thereby human-wildlife conflict. protecting both animals and Innovative community their fragile habitat. projects have been initiated to James Isiche reduce pressure on habitats Regional Director – IFAW East But for as long as legal and and uplift livelihoods to win Africa illegal international trade in community support for wildlife ivory exists, armed poachers conservation. Meanwhile, a

Tsavo 1 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N.

Africa’s Jewel: A Bleak History

Tsavo is at once famous British and German forces of 5,000 elephants annually for and infamous: Famous for fighting for supremacy over ivory. Rangers were not spared breathtaking landscapes East Africa. either. The bandits brazenly and astounding biodiversity, ambushed and shot them and infamous for a history Formally established in 1948 almost at will. underlined by brutal elephant and arguably Africa’s largest and rhino killings by poachers. Park then, Tsavo was divided Unfortunately, the situation into East and West for ease of was compounded by a severe The ecosystem’s rich history administration in 1949. Chyulu drought. As a result, elephant spans from the 19th Century Hills gained national park populations were devasted when the fabled man-eating status three decades later. from almost 40,000 in the early lions scattered hapless railway 70s to slightly above 5,000 construction workers. A Due to its sheer size, when poaching was at its tough and ambitious project, wilderness, and as host to the peak in 1988. For Tsavo’s black the Kenya-Uganda Railway, largest single population of rhinos, their fate was near aptly named ‘Lunatic Line’ by elephants and free-ranging tragic: about 99 per cent of sceptics, was built from the black rhino in Kenya, Tsavo the population was wiped out Port of Mombasa through is hard to police and is mainly for their horn whose Tsavo to Uganda to create consequently a constant demand rose in Asia and the access into the hinterland target for armed poachers. In Middle East. for colonial British investors. the early 1980s, for instance, Thereafter, with the outbreak of poachers from Somalia It took the intervention of World War I, Tsavo became the descended on the fragile the Kenya Government centre of fierce battles between habitat, poaching an average to completely subdue the

Tsavo 2 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes © IFAW/D.Willetts

Jaws of some of the poached elephants in Tsavo poaching gangs by overhauling elephants and rhino, and Under a special World Bank-led its Wildlife Department concentrated on other key project in 1992, Tsavo acquired and establishing the Kenya aspects of biodiversity much-needed vehicles, Wildlife Service (KWS) in its conservation as well. However, earth-moving machines and place. Retrained and armed as in all protected areas, law equipment. However, when with appropriate weaponry enforcement in Tsavo remains the project ended, there was and vehicles to repulse a critical cog and the rangers no further significant funding, poachers, KWS, together cannot let their guard down. leading to the running down of with reinforcement from elite these vehicles and equipment, military forces, took three But for a park to remain viable while roads and other years to regain control of and attract visitors and the infrastructure deteriorated. Tsavo. Meanwhile, Kenya led much-required revenue to efforts to bring to the attention keep it running, other critical In the circumstances, other of the global community the components need to be threats on the ecosystem precarious situation that these addressed concurrently. These such as escalating human- magnificent pachyderms faced, include basic park operations, wildlife conflict incidences and leading to the international ban a strong research programme, illegal harvesting of wildlife of trade in ivory and rhino horn an amenable neighbouring and wildlife products became in 1989. community through projects a challenge that needed to that have mutual benefits for be addressed swiftly and With the once rife poaching the wildlife and people, and adequately. under control, KWS intensified an outreach and awareness recovery programmes for programme.

Tsavo 3 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes © IFAW/D.Willetts

“It is obvious that the security situation in Tsavo is compromised by poor equipment and roads. If the war with poachers is to be won, then new equipment needs to be procured. The buffer zones also have to be secured. The best scenario is that poachers are defeated long before they enter the parks…” - Needs Assessment Survey Report on Conservation of Tsavo Ecosystem, 2004. Stunning landscapes in Tsavo West Tsavo before IFAW

Due to limited funding, KWS At the beginning of the IFAW The need to mitigate this major capped available resources Tsavo project, for instance, threat was paramount. on wildlife security and roads across the Parks were in conflict resolution, leaving poor state while some of the At its core, a well managed precious little for other wildlife earth-moving equipment used park should operate like an management activities. Even for road repairs had broken efficient unit. The backroom then, vehicles allocated to down. The number of rangers operations are as crucial as the Tsavo were insufficient, aged had outstripped available operations in the field. and expensive to maintain, accommodation, which, in Tsavo’s accountant needs a gobbling up scarce resources most cases, was decades old. computer and photocopier to and hindering efficient park process inventories such as management. Worse, incidences of human- food rations and equipment for wildlife conflict were rising rangers; the researcher needs To compound matters, radio owing to growing human transport and basic equipment communication equipment a population that exerted to monitor wildlife movements – vital for coordinating anti- pressure on the habitat. and key habitats; community poaching operations and Such incidences include wardens need transport to conflict management – was crop damage, destruction attend to human-wildlife insufficient, old and unreliable. of property, poisoning and Often, Tsavo needed nearly spearing of wildlife and loss conflict incidences while the twice as many more GPS units, of human life. Beside these ranger needs housing, uniform, binoculars and camping tents losses, such conflicts negate transport, good roads and than were available. collaborative conservation serviceable communication efforts between Tsavo’s equipment to be sufficiently Yet by focusing mostly management and the motivated to combat poaching. on anti-poaching and law neighbouring communities, enforcement, Tsavo’s other and severely challenge wildlife flanks were left unguarded. law enforcement measures.

Tsavo 4 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes © IFAW/D.Willetts © IFAW/D.Willetts © IFAW/D.Willetts © IFAW/D.Willetts

In the early 2000s, Tsavo was ill-equipped and short of required strength, deeply constraining park management and placing the magnificent animals it protects at grave risk © IFAW/E. Wamba © IFAW/E.

Tsavo 5 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes © IFAW/E. Wamba © IFAW/E.

“This ecosystem represents the last defence for our wildlife because it has sufficient space, and browse, to support diverse species and large numbers of wildlife. Let us, therefore, spare no effort, or resource, to maintain this safe sanctuary for our wildlife because it represents the future of our national heritage.” Hon. A.M. Moody Awori, Kenya’s Vice President, 2005. The Case to Protect Tsavo

The Tsavo ecosystem – and well managed, can support for conservation, it is a comprising of Tsavo East large herbivores such as management challenge and West National Parks, elephant, rhino and giraffe well particularly for law Chyulu Hills National Park into the future. enforcement. and surrounding community ranches - is an expansive Other than elephants, the Tsavo, which borders Tanzania, 43,000 square kilometres ecosystem also offers is also in close proximity with (16,602 square miles). At sanctuary to the endangered Somalia, bringing cross-border three per cent of Kenya’s land black rhino and is rich in conservation issues, especially surface, it is one of the largest biodiversity, with over 60 law enforcement, into sharp protected conservation areas mammals and 400 bird species focus. in Africa, with the highest recorded. population of elephants in It is with this in mind that IFAW, Kenya. A tourist haven, Tsavo is coming from a successful among Kenya’s top five partnership with KWS that With burgeoning human destinations, the main water saw the once moribund Meru populations exerting increasing reservoir for the coastal area National Park restored to its pressure on smaller parks, from Voi to Mombasa, and former glory, turned to give experts say only Tsavo, a bulwark of the country’s Tsavo a helping hand. because of its vast size and economy. Unfortunately, diverse vegetation, if protected while its vastness is a plus

Tsavo 6 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Committing to Protect Tsavo

A needs assessment survey the Tsavo ecosystem as well as commissioned by IFAW in enhance park operations. This 2004 indicated that US$20 programme was based upon million - well beyond IFAW’s six key pillars: pledge - was required to bring • Anti-poaching and law Tsavo to an ideal wildlife enforcement operations ecosystem within five years. • Basic park operations and Through roundtable talks, KWS infrastructure staff prioritised their most • Human-wildlife conflict urgent needs, focusing on resolution © IFAW/D.Willetts areas where minimal strategic • Community conservation investments would realise initiatives maximum outputs for wildlife. • Ecological research cycle, it was felt that certain • Conservation education vital needs remained unmet. Thus, in September 2005, Hon IFAW, therefore, agreed to A.M. Moody Awori, then Vice For five years, the joint stretch the programme to President of Kenya, unveiled IFAW/KWS project team six years. In addition, a joint a five-year US$1.25 million held quarterly and annual Tsavo project proposal with programme developed by consultations to plan ahead KWS was developed for IFAW and KWS to protect and review progress. At the resource mobilisation purposes elephants and the integrity of end of the five-year project with other partners. © IFAW/D.Willetts

Tsavo 7 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N.

“Keeping elephants alive is a daunting and expensive task: • A KWS anti-poaching patrol vehicle

runs over 300km daily on Tsavo’s © IFAW/D.Willetts rough terrain with tremendous wear and tear, and huge fuel and maintenance costs • Foot and vehicle patrols are supported by aerial surveillance with light aircraft overflying each park twice a day • Rangers require camping gear when anti-poaching and wildlife conflict management operations take them far away from their stations which is often.” Yussuf Adan, Senior Warden, Tsavo East National Park.

Tsavo 8 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Six Years of Passion, Determination and Hard work Securing Tsavo

A security outpost at within Tsavo following fierce Kanjaro near the Southwest gunfights. In addition, IFAW international boundary with helped rehabilitate the ranger Tanzania and the donation of security outpost in Chyulu 11 four-wheel drive vehicles Hills National Park and the and an assortment of security- main ranger station at the Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N. related equipment such as Park’s headquarters. This tents, binoculars and GPS has seen more rangers enjoy units by IFAW enhanced law better housing, a big morale enforcement operations. booster for a cadre that lives This led to arrests and, in and works in remote and harsh some instances, killing of environments. armed poachers found © KWS © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N.

Recovered trophies One of the most wanted poachers finally captured in Tsavo East Park in 2010

One Year in Numbers on law breakers. Here are • 3121 kilogrammes of IFAW has helped KWS to highlights from the Park’s bushmeat recovered from strengthen law enforcement records: poachers. operations in Tsavo. Between • 1104 suspects nabbed. • 4,600 kilogrammes of 2008 and 2009, for instance, • 2186 wire snares lifted. sandalwood impounded. motivated Tsavo West National • 44 poisoned arrows and 12 • Over 300,000 heads of Park rangers turned the heat bows seized. livestock driven out.

Tsavo 9 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N. A Helping Hand in Times of Crisis

The 2007 disputed presidential bushmeat in the already fragile putting many years of poll plunged the country, habitat. The need for deterrent conservation work to waste. one of the most stable in the patrols had never been greater, region, into chaos. While yet KWS coffers were dry. Highlights national parks remained IFAW’s emergency grant: virtually untouched, the tumult Fortunately, IFAW’s supporters • Fuelled and helped keep anti- devastated tourism, the major responded quickly and donated poaching patrol vehicles on source of revenue for KWS. US$ 115,855 towards an the move. emergency appeal. This was Tourism numbers plummeted used to procure tyres, diesel • Helped intensify aerial patrols within weeks, with major parks and aircraft fuel for anti- for anti-poaching and drove recording 90 per cent decline poaching and human-wildlife away livestock from the parks in revenue. In response, KWS conflict management, and the during the severe drought slashed monthly expenditure maintenance of firebreaks. season. budgets for Tsavo by 40 per cent, severely compromising It was a vital lesson for IFAW. • Helped rapid deployment of basic park and security Even at the best of times and in rangers to deal with human- operations. the safest of places, things can, wildlife conflict incidences. without warning, go awfully Unfortunately, a crippling wrong. And with the world’s • Minimised the threat of wild drought ensued, heightening focus directed at humanitarian bush fires by maintaining wild bush fires, human-wildlife assistance, national parks and firebreaks. conflict, illegal livestock wildlife – without a helping grazing and hunting for hand – often get destroyed,

Tsavo 10 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Revamping Park Operations and Infrastructure

Wildlife wardens fight tooth Highlights and nail to ensure that • Three donated four-wheel parks are not threatened by drive vehicles now deploy adverse human activities. This personnel for operational and requires a web of mutually infrastructural maintenance in supportive activities dubbed the parks. “park operations” for efficient • Providing clean water for administration, personnel rangers in remote anti- © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N. deployment, and security for poaching outposts and tourists and wildlife. rehabilitating ranger houses • Workshop tools and spares in Chyulu Hills Park has now repair Tsavo’s vehicles Due to budgetary constraints, boosted staff morale and and earth-moving equipment Tsavo had not received new efficiency. used for rebuilding roads and vehicles since 1994. Thus, • Procured a multi-purpose firebreaks. sharpening administrative tractor for fence construction • Office equipment such as abilities to ensure rangers and maintenance in places computers and photocopiers traverse the parks and such as Ngulia Rhino have improved efficiency adjoining buffer zones Sanctuary. The tractor also and effectiveness in park for law enforcement and helps to maintain airstrips, administration. human-wildlife management roads and firebreaks, and • An old water pump in Chyulu operations was critical. supplies ranger patrol bases Hills was replaced. The new Consequently, IFAW helped with water. pump refilled water pans for raise staff morale and improve • The only grader in Tsavo wildlife during the 2008 to efficiency and administrative West Park was restored to 2009 drought and continues outputs in the ecosystem. maintain roads, firebreaks to provide water for wildlife and airstrips. and park personnel. © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N.

Restored grader in operation on one of the park roads Tsavo 11 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes • Camping gear for wildlife- conflict management teams, while away from their stations, allows rangers to deal with conflict incidences more effectively. • A rehabilitated rangers’ base at Chyulu Hills Park

© IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N. is dedicated to handling conflict incidences in the Whilst conflict is common between elephants and people, other animals such as snakes and baboons are also a challenge in Tsavo neighbouring community. • A 78-kilometre elephant-proof Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict fence will ease conflicts for the farming community in the “In situations where man is and desilting existing water West of Tsavo. aggrieved, wildlife cannot pans to reduce the frequency • Four newly constructed and prosper – and vice versa. of elephants moving out of desilted water pans will But investing in outreach the Parks to cause conflict in reduce conflict between programmes, community community areas. elephants and neighbouring fence projects and eco- communities. tourism ventures can give By donating two four - • A newly sunk borehole and local communities the reason, wheel drive vehicles, radio storage tanks in one part of knowledge and skills to communication equipment, Chyulu Hills Park serve as the participate in conservation and three motorcycles and tents, only water supply for wildlife reap ecologically sustainable especially black rhino, and benefits from wildlife.” IFAW has enabled rangers to Fred O’Regan, IFAW respond quickly to human- also provide clean water to President, 2006. wildlife conflict flashpoints the rangers. in community areas. These • A water storage tank provides

Located mainly in a semi-arid vehicles and equipment have clean water for rangers based environment, Tsavo tends to also been used for community at one of Tsavo’s sub-stations be water deficient, an essential education and outreach outside the Parks while a resource for wildlife. The programmes to impart skills community water tank has situation is exacerbated by and knowledge and make the eased conflict between destructive activities such as local community effective wildlife and the pastoralist unregulated abstraction of partners in conservation work. community. water for irrigation and other • A school in the Chyulu area uses outside the parks. Hence, Highlights was ring-fenced to keep away it was crucial to supplement • New vehicles, motorbikes wildlife and allow school the water sources in the and radio equipment rapidly children to attend school ecosystem by constructing deploy rangers to conflict- without fear. water pans, sinking a borehole prone areas.

Tsavo 12 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes The Story of One Community and Wildlife

Taveta District, located at the electric fence project to reduce border of Kenya and Tanzania, human-elephant conflicts and has rich agricultural potential. enhance food security through But an escalation in conflicts employment and increased between elephants and agricultural returns in the the community, caused by farming community. increasing human populations and consequent land-use By contributing US$ 58,800 changes, has led to despair from their Constituency © IFAW/E. Wamba © IFAW/E. and helplessness among the Development Fund, the subsistence farmers. Not only community partnered with “When completed, this fence were community members IFAW, who gave US$ 54,000, will enable children to walk losing their lives and property, and KWS who pledged US$ safely to school; farmers to but the animals also got killed 294,000, making this one of the work their farms and reap in retaliation. few grassroots-driven conflict harvests without fear; while resolution initiatives in Kenya. elephants can flourish in the In 2007, the community Park without causing harm. bordering Tsavo West Park Fencing may not the best It’s a win-win situation.” embarked on an ambitious option, but in circumstances Manu Chandaria, IFAW Board 78-kilometre (48-mile) long such as these, it is inevitable. Trustee, 2007. © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N.

Tsavo 13 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Tsavo © IFAW/A. Mwazo 14 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Tsavo 15 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes

A large part of the area • IFAW trained community • Produce from two green adjoining the Tsavo Parks lacks members and established house units was sold to adequate rainfall for farming. aloe vera farming in Marungu lodges in Tsavo West Park, With the growing human and Utonyi. Marungu and the proceeds used by populations and poverty levels, community members are the community to renovate community members turn to now selling aloe products at a classroom for a secondary bushmeat poaching, charcoal their shop. The products have school. burning and sandalwood the elephant as part of their harvesting in the Parks to make logo as the group now views • A tree nursery and tree ends meet. elephants as a resource, and planting project for one not a threat. community will reduce In a collaborative effort deforestation of the Chyulu between Tsavo’s management • Trained and equipped Hills. and neighbouring community game scouts communities, various - formerly bushmeat • A tree planting project for innovative and home-grown poachers close to the Kenya- curio dealers in Tsavo West projects were developed. Tanzania border - combat Park will propagate fast- Training them on income- the bushmeat trade in their growing wood species as generating activities locality. They also inform opposed to illegal logging compatible with wildlife Tsavo personnel on other of hardwood from the Park. conservation was identified illegal activities and manage In addition, a modern curio as a significant factor to the conflict incidences in their shop was constructed for the viability of those projects and, areas. Their livelihoods have curio dealers. in the long-term, protection of been improved through elephants and wildlife of Tsavo. a poultry-rearing project initiated with IFAW’s support. IFAW therefore donated funds for training and establishment of ecotourism projects, tree nurseries, six bee-keeping projects, two aloe vera farming initiatives and green house © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N. farming.

Highlights • Almost all the bee-keeping projects have made their first harvest and communities are keen on more to boost their livelihoods.

Bee-keeping is one of the most popular community projects around Tsavo

Tsavo 16 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes A wood-carvingcommunitygroupisnowusingfast-growingwoodspeciesasopposedtologgingofhardwoodinTsavo An aloeproducts shopownedbytheMarungu community Tsavo 17 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes

“In the past, people made lots of money killing elephants, but it didn’t change their lives. A dead elephant never built a classroom. Once an animal dies, its value is gone. That is why we now campaign about the value of wildlife because this school is proof that an elephant can be ‘consumed’ without killing it.” Julius Mukula, parent and member of Kasaala Primary School Board.

At Kasaala, a village near Ithumba Station in northern Tsavo whose local primary school was rebuilt by two IFAW supporters, the community has © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N. become watchful for hunters and armed poachers.

This was not always the case. Joseph Mbindu, Chairman of the School’s Board, speaks of

the past: “Rangers had guns, Old sooty kitchen of Kasaala Primary before a new one was constructed but we had our poisoned arrows with which we killed elephants for ivory. We feared each other then, but now we are friends with KWS. When Mwazo © IFAW/A. two elephants from the Park invaded our farms shortly after the project started, we called the rangers. Previously, we would have killed the elephants on the spot and sold the tusks.” © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N.

Tsavo 18 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N. With donations from two supporters and the community providing some construction materials and labour, IFAW replaced the school’s leaking roof and built new toilets for the pupils, a new classroom block and library, a kitchen and a spacious administration block for teachers.

As a result, student enrolment New classrooms in Kasaala and performance have improved significantly while incidences of water-borne Two others schools, Tsavo and Kone Primary Schools, received diseases have declined owing IFAW support to construct three classrooms and a tank for water to the use of clean rainwater storage. So far, reports by the two communities on illegal wildlife harvested from the new school activities to Tsavo’s rangers have increased, and the relationship roof. In 2010, for the first time, between the two is no longer hostile. 14 pupils excelled in their final primary examinations and were admitted to good Government-run schools, comparable to three before the © IFAW/A. Mwazo © IFAW/A. rehabilitation of the school. In effect, the community has come aboard as a trusted conservation partner.

From a symbol of destructive violence and fear, elephants now represent hope and a worthy heritage for the community of Kasaala.

One of the classrooms at Tsavo Primary. IFAW is helping construct three new classrooms

Tsavo 19 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Nurturing Future Generations through Positive Outreach

Raising an environmentally Besides, it is nearly impossible education warden to make as conscious youth is paramount, to safeguard the integrity of many as 29 visits to schools especially in the diverse Tsavo, minimise conflicts with in previously inaccessible communities that live around wildlife and enforce wildlife areas in just six months. In parks. Because the livelihood laws without the support of addition, a teacher’s guide on of these communities is the community. Hence, public Tsavo East National Park will linked to Tsavo’s water, awareness programmes soon be published to support pasture, forests and wildlife are an integral part of park environmental education in resources, it is critical that management. schools and outreach initiatives, they understand how their while ten information panels actions affect the ecosystem To this end, IFAW donated mounted in strategic areas and eventually their own future two four-wheel drive vehicles in Tsavo enrich visitors’ survival. for education outreach knowledge. programmes, enabling one

It is the youth who hold the future of wildlife in their hands – as potential park rangers and wardens and through the footprints, positive or negative, that they will leave on wildlife habitats when they come of age. © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N.

Tsavo 20 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Highlights

• Provided vehicles and audio- visual equipment for outreach programmes for schools and the wider community

• Dedicating a vehicle donated by IFAW to education initiatives in Tsavo West

enabled park staff to reach Grosse-Woodley © IFAW/N. 19,222 school children and 1,405 adults in 2010. • Established six tree nurseries the Parks. The panels outline • One awareness initiative saw in primary schools in Tsavo interesting landscapes, children plant trees during West to discourage logging in conservation history and park a school environmental the Park. rules while in Tsavo. awareness campaign in the • Developed ten information • There have been increased community at the foothills panels that Tsavo education reports to Tsavo personnel of Chyulu. wardens use as teaching on illegal activities from aids for children who visit community members. © IFAW/D. Willetts © IFAW/D. Tsavo 21 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes © IFAW/D. Willetts © IFAW/D.

“Neither Tsavo East nor West National Parks has the capacity to sufficiently generate, store and use scientific information for management purposes. Tsavo West research activities, for instance, are conducted from a disused helicopter hangar without the barest of scientific tools.”- Needs Assessment Survey Report on Conservation of Tsavo Ecosystem, 2004.

Enabling Research for Effective Elephant Conservation

A vibrant research programme and human-wildlife conflict • Procured an assortment is part and parcel of wildlife resolution. of equipment such as management, especially in computers, cameras and GPS fragile ecosystems like Tsavo. Through IFAW’s support, the units for collecting, analysing Habitats and species need research department has and storing data. to be constantly monitored been strengthened to help and wildlife distribution and gather and analyse data for • Equipped the Tsavo Research movement mapped out. In management. In the difficult Centre with GIS equipment addition, weather patterns years ahead, when Tsavo – like and software for printing and human activity in the other wildlife habitats in the maps on wildlife movements ecosystem must be recorded, world – grapple with climate and distribution, human analysed and taken into change, it is this information activities and educational account. that experts will require posters and brochures. Tsavo to chart the future of this is the only Park in Kenya with Such information, when ecosystem. this capability. professionally recorded, managed and used, can help Highlights • Helped develop three prevent ecological crises. It • Donated two vehicles and elephant vegetation also aids wildlife managers camping gear for research enclosures for monitoring make informed decisions, teams collecting and large herbivores, fires and particularly ranger deployment recording vital data further livestock and their long-term and efficient allocation of afield. impact on vegetation change. resources for law enforcement

Tsavo 22 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes By providing vehicles and equipment, IFAW has facilitated rescue and veterinary interventions for Tsavo’s wildlife

All photos by IFAW/ N. Grosse-Woodley

Tsavo 23 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes A Mammoth Elephant Count

The February 2011 census established 12,573 elephants within the Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem.

Conducted every three years, the Tsavo census is the most regular total elephant count in Kenya. Jointly undertaken with KWS, IFAW spent US$ 87,000 on an aerial count of elephants in the wider Tsavo-Mkomazi ecosystem.

12,573 jumbos were recorded, a two per cent increase from the previous count (11,696 elephants in 2008) and a drop from the national four per cent growth rate that has been the norm in previous years.

Elephant scientists cited an escalation of poaching between 2008 and 2009 and a severe drought during the same period as causes of decline in growth rate. In the long term, KWS hopes that as many as 45,000 elephants will trumpet across Tsavo as they once did in the early 1970s GIS personnel using IFAW-donated GIS equipment before the poachers came. to record and analyse data during the census

All photos by IFAW/D. Willetts

Tsavo 24 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Mapping Elephant Movements using Satellite Collars

Scientists in Tsavo East will soon know the daily and seasonal migration patterns of elephant herds in real time, without driving hundreds of kilometres through dense bush as has been the norm.

Through a collaring project co- funded by IFAW and KWS and commissioned in March 2011, the researchers will regularly track elephant movements within the ecosystem for almost two years.

Mapping a detailed GPS track of elephant movements in Tsavo - last attempted in 1972

- will enable park managers All photos by IFAW/D. Willetts and researchers to understand elephant habitat needs, identify emerging migration patterns and corridors, and deal more effectively with land-use changes, poaching and human- elephant conflict.

Tsavo 25 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Future and Hope for Tsavo

Keeping Poachers While IFAW has boosted law between people and wildlife enforcement operations in and is most acute within buffer at Bay Tsavo, at present, there is need zones and migratory routes Much as the infamous “ivory for continued investment and outside parks. wars” of the 1970s and 80s support to ensure deterrent may be a thing of the past, security patrols are always IFAW has demonstrated that sporadic poaching remains. in place. A total international by supporting interventions Armed poachers still stalk ivory trade ban, which IFAW such as elephant-proof fences, wildlife – mainly elephants spiritedly supports, will help where it is absolutely necessary, and rhino – especially in safeguard elephants well into and enhancing Tsavo rangers the northern parts of Tsavo the future. capacity to manage and mitigate East which abuts Somalia, human-wildlife conflicts, the the Southern parts of Tsavo Mitigating Human- support of local communities West on the Kenya-Tanzania Elephant Conflict for conservation can be won. border, and in community- owned ranches within the vast Human-wildlife conflict costs In the long-term, it is innovative ecosystem. human lives and leads to community livelihood projects biodiversity loss and habitat that are compatible with Other than armed poachers, destruction. It is manifested conservation that will win bushmeat hunters still trap by wildlife raids on crops, additional space for wildlife. small mammals for food livestock and people and on during the drier periods of the the flipside, revenge wildlife year. Unfortunately, trends killings by local communities. It show that this activity is now arises mainly from competition commercially driven. for space and resources

Tsavo 26 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Stemming Habitat Encroachment and Loss

In 2007, IFAW supported an awareness workshop for the Judiciary and the Police in Tsavo to help them appreciate the gravity of wildlife and environmental crimes such as poaching and habitat encroachment.

Illegal grazing of livestock is an aspect of habitat encroachment and a serious threat to the ecosystem because it damages the habitat and risks cross-

Tsavo East and West Parks are Fencing some areas of Tsavo has helped reduce particularly vulnerable with human encroachment and conflict with wildlife hundreds of thousands of livestock driven into them Emerging Threat each year. Climate change is sweeping from local communities, there across Africa at an alarming is need to enhance Tsavo’s While maintaining law rate and promises to be a research programmes. enforcement operations of gruesome threat to the Tsavo

Tsavo is paramount, more ecosystem. Due to increased Specific interventions to deal strategic and longer-term droughts, fires, habitat changes with these threats will have to interventions are needed. and heightened pressure be made. © IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley IFAW/N. ©

Tsavo 27 Challenges, Solutions, Hopes Finance IFAW-Tsavo Project Expenditure Report 2005 - 2011

Park Human- Special Management & Wildlife Grant - Wildlife Infrastructure Conflict Community Emergency Taveta TCAP Total Year Security Development Mitigation Conservation Research Education Grant Fence Office (US$)

FY11 50,079.71 - - 33,761.25 110,889.68 - - - 269.27 194,999.91 FY10 54,074.63 12,538.63 82,330.32 19,425.74 4,890.13 52,561.04 - - 3,180.23 229,000.72 FY09 34,324.30 128,297.52 55,674.91 7,404.62 14,761.75 502.20 - - 9,035.44 250,000.74 FY08 18,239.19 113,569.29 58,274.67 100,142.32 5,209.86 6,708.98 117,596.09 54,000.00 12,256.07 431,996.47 FY07 - 85,053.09 - 79,199.25 44,115.60 41,001.57 - - 10,697.06 260,066.57 FY06 196,505.14 35,861.72 986.11 - 70,919.79 - - - 9,832 314,104.76

Total 1,734,169.17 Tsavo Grant

Tsavo Donors 2005-2011

Kenya Donor US Donors Dr. Adalja Mahendra Krishnalal Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Christopher J. Matthews Mr. & Mrs. Marlow S. Baar Plum Foundation Netherlands Donor Michele & Agnese Cestone Mr. & Mrs. Kevin McCaffrey Dhr. A. N. K. Quist Foundation Ms. Konny Murray & Mr. & Mrs. Charles Birdsey Mr. David Buckingham UK Donors Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bishop Ms. Vicky Myers-Kaseff & Mr. Gary Kaseff Anonymous (2) USFWS - Wildlife without Borders Michael & Laura Neuhoff Miss M. Bach Ferree Foundation The Pegasus Foundation Mr. & Mrs. R. B. Bugg Dr. Charles F. Colao Mr. & Mrs. Robert T. Perkins Mr. John R. Corrin Ms. Jody Cole Ms. Rosemarie Resnik Mrs. B. Dean Ms. Suzanne Costas Ms. Leslie Roach Delves Charitable Trust Pettus-Crowe Foundation, Inc. Ms. Alice K. Robinson Miss Stephanie Furmanowie Mr. Bill Desser & Ms. Kate Broc Mr. David Rosenzweig Mr. G. R. Gratton Mrs. Florence M. Goldby Mr. Michael H. Ruehr & Mrs. C. G. R. Green Ms. Linda M. Gordon & Mr. Donald W. Barshinger Ms. Susan L. Bruner Lady A. L. Hayter-Hames Barbara & Bud Hellman Disney Worldwide Mrs. J M. Howell Conservation Fund Ms. Amanda W. Hopkins Mrs. D. Kirlow Laura & Stephen A. Scully Dr. Phyllis A. Huene Mr. Emil Maschner Sequoia Foundation Ms. Colleen Kennedy Ms. A. Peters Mr. Cyrus W. Spurlino Ms. Mary C. Kennedy Mr. Robert Picciotto Ms. Victoria Stack Ms. Juliana Kickert Mr. & Mrs. Bill Reynolds Mr. & Mrs. Donald W. Taylor Ms. Dana Korbin Mr. Derek Roche The David P. Tenberg Jayna Lee Mrs. P. Roeder Charitable Foundation Mr. Michael J. Lindley Dr. Schwartz Ms. Irene Trautman Mr. Edward Maiello Miss L. A. Tarleton Rocky & April Votolato Ms. Geraldine Maslanka & Ms. Jeannie Williams Friends of Wildlife Mr. Lee Marshall Sarah & Johnathan Wry Mr. Thomas G. Wright MasterCard International Ms. Marion Zola & Mr. Sam Urcis

© IFAW/N. Grosse-Woodley Tsavo ConservationArea. future.” the like IFAW who share our vision, Tsavo will live well into friends have we as long as for passionately.And and unique ecosystem and its wildlife fiercely, relentlessly this protect will we reason, this For economy. our of Its park. biodiversity is part of our history and one of the pillars national oldest second Kenya’s is “Tsavo uis iai KS sitn Director, Assistant KWS Kimani, Julius

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