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2001 Project News |
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During our survey of the Masai Mara this spring, we received considerable support from Kayhan Ostovar, a wildlife biologist who works with our friend Anne Kent Taylor in her safari business and on the AKTF conservation projects.
 Lori and Heidi Bergemann with the AKTF team members |
He had conducted the initial survey for the de-snaring project and set up the snare sweep protocol.
On our survey we were able to accompany the AKTF team from
Youth For Conservation - Collins, Evanson, PK, Nelson (a local Maasai),
and two rangers from the Mara. They are young Kenyans with an abiding
appreciation for the wildlife in Kenya, and their courage is inspirational.
These young men are happy to spend their days out in the bush, literally
risking their lives, in order to combat the threat of poachers. They spend
2 weeks at a time in the Mara, camping in a tent near one of the gates.
During the day they are out walking in areas they have identified as good
spots for poachers to set snares and/or set up camps. This is very dangerous
work, on foot, in tall grass and forests, near the river, in spots away
from the roads.
 This Giraffe was killed by a poisoned arrow. |
They have two Rangers who accompany them with rifles, but
it is still very risky, as one never knows when they might encounter a
buffalo, a snake, or any of the wild animals that live there. We are constantly
amazed by their commitment and level of knowledge.
On a previous snare sweep they found a large camp with 8 dead hippos,
8 dead eland, a dead leopard, elephant tusks, and full drying racks for
the meat.
There was evidence that up to 20 people had been camping there, right
inside the park, near the river. We revisited that camp with them to see
if the poachers had returned to it, and indeed they had, leaving evidence
most probably just to attempt to scare the teams from coming back. To
no avail - these men won't be scared.
 Demonstrating how a snare works |
Here is an unedited excerpt from an email we received recently from one of the team members, Collins Ajuok:
"…We were also of the opinion that subject to availability of funds, we should maintain a constant presence in the bush to discourage those poachers from walking in and out at will. All in all what you are doing is marvelous and we lack words to thank you. Forget about the danger because if danger is part of the solution then I'd readily go for it. Somehow the danger makes the rewards more satisfying and if we ever begin to fear then we shall have lost the battle on the altar of cowardice! Every time I see animals with snares around their necks, or dead animals with snare marks I tell myself that the battle has only began and nothing will cow me…"
This was the 4th sweep thus far, and one is taking place again now, the results of which should be very interesting, as the migration is in the Mara at this time, and we expect the poachers to be taking full advantage of this fact. We believe that if we are able to help AKTF continue the snare sweeps, these poachers will give up. It was shown in Tsavo National Park that with the teams' continued periodic sweeps, poaching decreased significantly.