Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts ©IFAW/D

Home , Chyulu Hills, Tsavo East National Park

Big Impacts Small Steps, Tsavo: July 2007-June2008

A Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts ©IFAW/D. Willetts Eland strut theTsavo landscape Community Elephants Front cover: © IFAW/D. Willetts © IFAW/E. Indakwa A desertroseinfullbloomTsavo Great whiteegretsatLakeJipeinTsavo West

©IFAW/D. Willetts

1 Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts IFAW/D. Willetts IFAW/D. Message from James Isiche ©

Investing in a Worthy Cause

The third financial year for the Tsavo Conservation Area Project (TCAP) commenced on an exciting note for IFAW and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Set objectives were on course; Kenya’s economy was booming; tourist numbers and park revenues were at an all-time high; and KWS seemed poised to achieve financial self- sustenance by 2013.

Unfortunately, two unrelated events patrols and maintenance of fire breaks in pummeled the financial fortunes of the fire-prone sections of the park were done. Tsavo Parks and left the country’s wildlife – elephants in particular – in great peril. These huge challenges cannot, however, obscure the tremendous gains made during The decision by CITES in 2007 to allow this period. Our support for innovative four Southern African states to offload their community conservation projects aimed ivory stockpiles to Japan and China placed at reducing human-wildlife conflicts and a threat on elephants in other countries uplifting livelihoods will certainly enhance within the continent. Then, an eruption of community support for conservation. violence after Kenya’s disputed presidential Most heartening, also, is the unwavering election at the close of 2007 followed. dedication and courage of Tsavo personnel who protect this rich wildlife habitat, and Other than devastating the country, the the endearing goodwill of IFAW supporters resulting turmoil brought the tourism worldwide in these difficult economic industry to its knees, with park revenues times. falling by 90 per cent. Inevitably, this necessitated drastic budget cuts for all The continued success of Tsavo remains an Kenyan parks and severely constrained outstanding tribute to your noble efforts. park operations, making Tsavo extremely vulnerable to ivory poachers.

Mercifully, IFAW supporters harkened to Tsavo’s distress call. With their support, an emergency grant was made to KWS, enabling the Tsavo parks to purchase fuel, lubricants James Isiche and tyres for anti-poaching patrols. In Regional Director, IFAW East Africa addition, emergency road repairs to ease movement of security personnel during Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 2 IFAW/D.Willetts ©

An elephant splashes through a waterpan in the expansive Tsavo Conserving Tsavo for the Future With an area of 43,000 square kilometres, The rest of the ecosystem is predominantly the Tsavo ecosystem is larger than Israel communal land, rich in resident and and the State of New Jersey in USA. Within migratory wildlife with immense potential this vast area lie Tsavo East and West and for community-based wildlife conservation the Chyulu Hills National Parks. With an programmes. Unfortunately, the close estimated elephant population of 11,696 proximity of Tsavo to the Somalia border, (KWS 2008), Tsavo is easily Kenya’s most where most armed poachers originate viable elephant habitat. from to kill elephants and rhinos, makes it fraught with enormous security challenges. This is compounded by an escalation of Consultative meetings are held regularly between Tsavo and IFAW staff human-wildlife conflict, a threat both to the community and biodiversity conservation.

Since 2005, IFAW has been investing in a partnership with KWS to conserve this IFAW/E. Indakwa IFAW/E.

© magnificent wildlife habitat for future generations. Through regular roundtable talks between KWS and IFAW, the Project remains dynamic and on course, and scarce resources are employed to maximise protection of elephants and their habitat in Tsavo. Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 3 ©IFAW/D. Willetts

©IFAW/E. Wamba • Communityconservationprogrammes • Human/wildlifeconflictresolutionand • Conservationeducation • Research • Lawenforcement • How TCAProject fundsarespent: infrastructure Enhancement ofbasicoperationsand Jonathan Kirui, KWSJonathan Kirui, AssistantDirector, Tsavo Area Conservation solid support” with more acts but less talks that organisation an is It objectives. shared and respect mutual on based always are discussions Our expertise. and input our acknowledges and values IFAW organisations, some “Unlike Scenic volcaniclandscapesinTsavo West and communityprojects. operations park patrols, security grants towards additional disbursed IFAW this, above and Over education. and research conservation, community enforcement, law for used was grant the of remainder The conflict. human-wildlife of mitigation and - running and up areas conservation basic park operations - essential in keeping cent of the annual IFAW grant was used for per 70 over slightly duration, this During

4 Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts IFAW/E. Indakwa IFAW/E. ©

IFAW has donated more than ten vehicles towards all aspects of the project since 2005 IFAW Vehicle Donations Help Protect Elephants

At the onset of the project, the one the unserviceable units with new ones need that KWS staff considered most every year. basic in the enhancement of basic park operations was vehicles. Due to In this financial year, four new vehicles were budgetary constraints, KWS had not delivered to Tsavo East National Park which, procured new vehicles since 1994. As over and above enhancing basic operations, a result, some vehicles accumulated have made tremendous contribution to the as much as 500,000 kilometres on the protection of elephants. rough terrain in the parks. The fleet was aged, unreliable and unserviceable with One such vehicle was handed over prohibitive maintenance costs. to Ithumba Station, majorly an anti- poaching unit that protects the northern Worse, some duty stations such as research, sector of Tsavo East National Park against education and community conservation armed poachers from Somalia. The Park lacked means of transport altogether. also received a vehicle to help in road This curtailed efficiency and made it maintenance, another for its Mutomo difficult for them to offer support services community field station and one for its Most vehicles in Tsavo were required in helping the parks to achieve Education Unit. In addition, IFAW also either rundown or had clocked hundreds of thousands of their overall conservation mandate. Being delivered an assortment of workshop kilometres which escalated a pragmatic organisation, IFAW responded tools and grader spares which are vital maintenance costs immediately by systematically replacing for keeping the park’s entire fleet on the road.

Good roads are integral for park management activities such as anti- poaching patrols and tourism-related activities. In Tsavo West, IFAW helped repair the only grader in the park, thereby strengthening road maintenance. The park also received a new vehicle for its research unit and a tractor to help in maintenance of firebreaks. Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 5 ©IFAW/D. Willetts o ites al fo te community. conflicts human-wildlife heightened the This from calls distress to very difficult for rangers to respond quickly in the 1980s. With only a motorcycle, it was abutting northern Tsavo, last had a vehicle for conservation issues on community land responsible Mutomo, at station KWS The by communitiesisaconstantthreattoconservation Snaring ofwildlifeforcommercialbushmeatinTsavo

©IFAW/D. Willetts Josphat Erupe, Warden, JosphatErupe, IthumbaStation activities.” plough back into other conservation can I savings are These cent. per 75 by reduced have costs maintenance vehicle monthly my while poachers subsistence and armed by hideouts managed to map out all areas used as the past to 30 per month. We’ve from also incidents in cases reported 350-3380 between snaring wildlife reducing patrols, intensify to team my enabled has vehicle new “This has nowbeen restored. support and goodwill Community cases. reported of cent per 92 to responding rangers with rapid, now is time response KWS Kavi, Joseph IFAW,warden area says by donated vehicle new the With wildlife. towards apathy community fanned and

©KWS

6 Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Ranger patrolsin Tsavo canbedramaticanddangerous

7 Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts ©IFAW/D. Willetts Securing Tsavo in Times of Peril

Financial resources for wildlife protection are hard to come by even when there is peace and normalcy. This worsens during national turmoil when the scarce resources that are IFAW/D. Willetts IFAW/D.

available are diverted to the most pressing © and strategic demands. Nonetheless, those responsible for wildlife protection must, in spite of lack of resources, continue safeguarding national parks.

Despite civil unrest having had no direct impact on national parks and reserves or visitor security following Kenya’s disputed “We were in dire presidential poll, tourism visitation straits. Without IFAW, dropped by 90 per cent nationally. whose emergency support came through Hence, park managers - including those at our greatest hour in charge of Tsavo Parks - undertook 60 of need, the situation per cent operational expenditure cuts. would have been This is barely enough to oversee essential unimaginable for park management activities such as law elephant security.” enforcement, basic operations and human- The rare male gerenuk is a sight to behold wildlife conflict mitigation. Daniel Woodley, Senior Warden, Tsavo West National Park Yet it is during difficult times, such as this, becomes real. Hence, immediate reaction that the threat of resurgence in poaching such as the positive response from several donors’ to IFAW’s appeal for emergency

©Nana Grosse-Woodley support for Tsavo is vital. Their donations enabled the purchase of over 60,000 litres of fuel, 1,700 litres of lubricants, and 70 tyres and tubes. These were key in ensuring the maintenance of a basic level of deterrent security patrols by KWS anti- poaching units.

Unfortunate as this situation was, it re-affirms that we cannot afford to be complacent in safeguarding wildlife and their habitats. Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 8 ©IFAW/D. Willetts The Tsavo ecosystem ishosttoKenya’s largest elephantpopulation

9 Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Elephants calvesplay 10 Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts ©IFAW/D. Willetts IFAW/E. Wamba IFAW/E. ©

The pastrolist Maasai are one of the communities affected by wildlife conflicts Forging Partnerships with Communities for Conservation Human-wildlife conflicts – exacerbated by collaborative conservation efforts between poverty – are arguably the second greatest parks and the neighbouring communities, threat to elephants after armed poaching and severely challenge enforcement of in Kenya. These include animal poisoning, wildlife regulations. In a bid to stem this, spearing and killing of wildlife, crop damage, IFAW jointly initiated several projects destruction of property, and loss of human with KWS aimed at improving the lives in life by wildlife. Apart from losses in human communities neighbouring Tsavo East and life and wildlife, these conflicts negate West and the Chyulu Hills National Parks.

The Village School that ‘Elephants’ Rehabilitated

©IFAW/D. Willetts

Kasaala Primary School: Investing in future generations for sustainable conservation

When an elephant strayed out of Tsavo of Kasaala kept watch over mother and calf East National Park along its northernmost until rangers arrived. Not too long ago, the tip near Ithumba Station and gave birth to mother would have been speared for her a baby calf in a farm in 2008, the residents meat and tusks. Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 11 “People made lots of money killing

elephants, but it never KWS © changed their lives. A dead elephant never The Kasaala Primary School community provided labour and some building materials to rehabilitate the school built a classroom. Once an animal dies, This change of heart is attributed to suspects to KWS officials. And while their its value is gone. improved goodwill and support from the relationship in the past was tense, rangers local community following the rehabilitation and members of the local community now That is why we now of their once struggling Kasaala Primary meet for an occasional game of football. campaign about School into one of the finest learning the value of wildlife institutions in the district. With donations But children stand to benefit most. There because this school is from two IFAW supporters, an old classroom has been a marked rise in school enrolment. proof that an elephant block had its leaking roof replaced and its Incidences of water-borne diseases have can be ‘consumed’ walls repainted, a new classroom block was dramatically declined owing to use of without killing it.” constructed, and new and separate ablution clean rain water harvested from the new blocks was set up for boys and girls. school roof. Julius Mukula, parent and member of Kasaala Primary School Board That investment is already bearing fruit. With their donations, IFAW supporters have Since the school rehabilitation began, the improved the lives of the local community community has handed over 35 poaching and in turn made elephants safer.

A Community Fence to Reduce Human-Elephant Conflicts

Taveta District which borders Tsavo local community and wildlife. Besides loss West National Park has rich agricultural of human lives, wildlife killings and crop potential. But an escalation in human- damage, the conflict has cultivated a sense elephant conflicts arising from increase of despair and hopelessness among the in human population and consequent local community. land use changes are a threat both to the

An elephant wonders through a village near Lake Jipe in Tsavo West IFAW/D. Willetts IFAW/D. © Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 12 When completed, ©IFAW/E. Wamba this fence will enable children to walk to school safely; farmers to work their farms and reap harvests without fear while elephants will flourish in the Park without causing anyone harm. It’s a win-win situation Manu Chandaria, IFAW Board Trustee

Local Member of Parliament Hon. Naomi Shaban and IFAW Board Trustee Dr Manu Chandaria launch the Jipe-Rombo Community Fence as KWS Director Julius Kipng’etich looks on

During this financial year, IFAW partnered By partnering with wildlife authorities with KWS and local leaders to commission and local communities to seek pragmatic an ambitious 78 kilometre-long electric solutions to elephant-related conflicts, IFAW fence. This project will, according to the hopes to improve community support and local Member of Parliament, improve enhance wildlife conservation in the area. food security and the livelihoods of her 52,000 constituents - particularly women - through increased farming and agribusiness opportunities.

The electric fence will drastically reduce human-elephant conflicts once complete

©IFAW/D. Willetts Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 13 “The aloe vera is hardy. Even if elephants trample on it, new shoots emerge. Such projects are good. IFAW/E. Indakwa IFAW/E.

They result in © goodwill and An aloe farming community project on the outskirts of Tsavo West supported by IFAW friendship from the community. Enhancing Community Livelihoods for Wildlife Security This makes Most of the areas adjoining the Tsavo Parks operate at the Tsavo West National Park’s wildlife safe.” lack adequate rainfall for arable farming. As main entrance. This will enable them to Robert Musembi, a consequence, poverty levels are high and propagate fast-growing wood instead Project Coordinator, standards of living low. Many people turn to of logging hardwoods illegally from the Utonyi Self-Help Group charcoal burning, bushmeat and even armed Park. The construction of a modern eco- poaching to make ends meet, placing great friendly market in the township will also pressure on biodiversity increase revenues earned from tourists.

In their discussions with Tsavo’s community • Establishment of an aloe farming project wildlife conservation officers, the local for Utonyi self-help group at Kathekani community agreed to form groups through on the border of Tsavo West. Apart from which they could seek funding to support purchase of 5,000 seedlings, IFAW income-generating projects. Apart from facilitated training on aloe propagation generating revenue, these projects and donated a water pump and piping are tailored to enhance biodiversity equipment. The group plans to initiate conservation with minimal impact on five similar projects in the area within wildlife. The projects initiated include: five years. • Training and establishment of a tree planting project for curio dealers who • Training and capacity enhancement for Jipe/Rombo community game scouts. Comprising of reformed poachers-turned wildlife protectors, the scouts work with KWS to fight bushmeat trade locally. They also monitor and inform KWS on other illegal activities and manage human- IFAW/D. Willetts IFAW/D. © wildlife conflicts in their respective areas. In addition, the scouts are turning their lives around through ecologically sustainable income generating projects The reclusive kudu is a such as chicken farming. delight for Tsavo visitors Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 14 IFAW/E. Indakwa IFAW/E. ©

A water pump purchased by IFAW for the aloe farming community project

• Support of a bee-keeping project at Kikunduku on the border of Tsavo West National Park. Members expect to harvest 100-150 kilogrammes of honey every three weeks once the hives are colonised and established. The group also plans to train game scouts to help protect wildlife in the area.

IFAW aims to raise awareness and champion alternatives available to communities that IFAW/E. Wamba IFAW/E. complement wildlife conservation. © “Recently, a rhino Without the water pump, irrigation was manual and time consuming that strayed out of the Park was

ensnared. We KWS © followed it up with KWS and rescued it. We were also able to retrieve other snares that would have killed more wildlife. We have identified six scouts that we wish to train on tracking to improve wildlife security.” Jimmy Munyao, Chairman, Kikunduku Self-Help Group Tsavo Parks Assistant Director Jonathan Kirui hands over bee-keeping

equipment procured by IFAW to a community group near Chyulu Hills Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 15 IFAW/D . Willetts IFAW/D ©

Chyulu Hills Protecting the Chyulu Hills - Tsavo’s Water Catchment

According to officials at Tsavo West National As part of IFAW/KWS TCA project: Park, the volume of water discharged daily at • A nursery and tree planting project was the Mzima Springs has been declining over established to encourage tree farming the years due to illegal logging, charcoal and reduce deforestation of the water burning and other destructive activities on catchment by local communities; the nearby Chyulu Hills. Should this trend continue unabated, the consequences • A community water project was initiated would be dire for Tsavo East and West at Kithasyo to minimise competition for National Parks and Kenya’s coastal region the scarce resource water and resultant which mainly depend on water from the conflict with elephants; Mzima Springs. • Community groups received support for establishment of bee - keeping projects at Kaunguni area to boost local incomes and minimise destructive human activity in the Park;

Seizure: Tonnes of sandalwood are illegally harvested from the Chyulu Hills each year IFAW/D. Willetts IFAW/D. © Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 16 essential forwildlifesecurity communication byrangersare Hand-held VHSradiosforfield A modernhousingblockbuiltwithIFAW supportcontrastssharplywithtinhutsforrangers atChyuluHills • • Assorted tools&equipmentforconservation hi ue rcrd n a ae tank water a installed toimprove welfare; staff and procured use their for generator a completed; was project, TCA the of year financial second the in began which rangers, for unit housing A area; and catchment the for devastating are which fires minimise and encroachment curb to installed were firebreaks for maintaining equipment and beacons Boundary ©IFAW/D. Willetts to Tsavo West NationalPark. adjacent communities local and inawareness schools in programmesassist to LCD projector an and conflict, personnel responsible for management of human-wildlife finder for wildlife security and research, camping gear for for field communicationby rangers, GPS units and a range activities. conservation various include These radios VHS in assist to equipment and tools assorted received also In addition to the myriad activities undertaken, the TCAP on theChyulu Hills. activities human illegal of pressure reduce to aims IFAW projects, generating income establish to community local the assisting and rangers of welfare the improving By • wildlife. and people local the of to Hills Chyulu the importance the on community the sensitise to rife are activities illegal where areas in held were meetings Awareness

Tsavo Year 3 Expenditure Report

Objective Amount spent (US$) Park Management & Infrastructure Development 113,569.29 Wildlife Security 18,239.19 Research 5,209.86 Human-wildlife Conflict Mitigation 58,274.67 Community Conservation 31,744.63 Education 6,708.98 TCAP Coordinating Office Costs 12,256.07 Total Annual Grant 246,002.69

Additional Grants

Emergency Grant 117,596.09 Aloe Vera Project 7,500 Kasaala Primary School Rehabilitation 60,897.69 Total 185,993.78 Grand Total 431,996.46

US Major Donors Dana Korbin Anonymous (2) Pettus-Crowe Foundation Edward Maiello Suzanne Costas – Kasaala Primary School

IFAW/E. Wamba IFAW/E. Geraldine Maslanka & Lee Marshall © Stephen A. & Laura Scully US Foundations Mr. & Mrs. Donald Taylor Michele & Agnese Cestone Foundation – Aloe Farming in Tsavo Dr. Phyllis A. Huene The David P. Tenberg Jeannie Williams Charitable Foundation Irene Trautman Plum Foundation Vicky Myers-Kaseff Feree Foundation Marion Zola & Sam Urcis Charles F. Colao Mr. & Mrs. Marlow S. Baar UK Major Donors Bill Desser & Kate Broc Anonymous (6) Amanda W. Hopkins Mrs. C.G.R. Green Michael & Laura Neuhoff Dr. & Mrs. Morris Schwartz Nat & Barbara Hellman Mr. R. Piccotto Mr. & Mrs. Charles Birdsey Miss S. Furmanowie Rose Resnik

Maasai Giraffe in Tsavo East Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts Tsavo: 18 ©IFAW/D. Gadomski Nairobi -Kenya ACS Plaza, 2ndFloor-LenanaRoad East Office Africa Yarmouth Port, MA02675, USA 411 MainStreet Headquaters International

A Tsavo: Small Steps, Big Impacts