In June, Mara Elephant Project rangers joined our colleagues to lead the Training of Trainers (ToT) course supported by the Basecamp Explorer Foundation – Kenya (BCEF-K) at MEP HQ. During the final week of the course, MEP trainers challenged the trainees to become the trainers and test their ability to transfer their newly earned skills to the broader team. Participants were given specific courses to lead and reviewed based on their command of the topic and the first batch of trainees all passed.
“With the losses suffered during the recent floods, the Search and Rescue (SAR) and First Aid skills gained have now equipped us with the capabilities to save the lives of members of the community in the wake of such natural calamities. We are now able to plan our patrols more effectively, carry out ambushes safely, and utilize basic information technology in report writing. I am going to be at the forefront of creating awareness and passing these skills on to other rangers in Enarau Conservancy. Thanks to MEP and the Basecamp for facilitating this training.”
Enarau Conservancy Ranger Gideon Ntimama
As mentioned above, MEP ranger’s SAR training was critical as flood response continued in the Mara in May. MEP rangers were on the ground working closely with the Kenya Red Cross, Narok County Government (NCG) and the community to respond. The MEP helicopter was deployed to drop off food rations to NCG rangers cut off from their patrol base by the flood waters and MEP rangers were there to assist community members as they navigated collapsed bridges and washed-out roads.
In May, MEP held drone training at HQ for 24 rangers from 20 conservancies in the Mara as part of the ToT course. After 3 weeks of training, we are happy to announce that all 24 rangers from the Mara conservancies successfully passed the KCAA exam expanding drone operations in the conservancies.
The high amount of rainfall brought ripe crops and drones were a critical tool for MEP rangers to deploy in response. Rangers responded to mitigate 60 total conflict incidents during the second quarter. Many of the nine MEP ranger teams relyed on their drones to respond to conflict during this quarter. The “Golf” ranger team deployed the drone several times to move collared Elephant Fitz and his herd of 100 out of farms and back into the Nyakweri Forest. The “Lima” ranger team in Mosiro deployed their drone to monitor a large herd of elephants prone to crop raiding farms while migrating from the Rift Valley to Shompole. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) Mau De-Snaring Units responded to cases of elephants crop raiding bordering farms, the “Foxtrot” team responded to move a herd of bulls via drone trapped inside a settlement as they were attempting to migrate from the Mara to the Mau Forest and the HQ team worked tirelessly responding to nighttime conflict incidents around near headquarters.
If they weren’t responding to conflict, they were deploying their drones to monitor elephants or reconnaissance for illegal habitat destruction. The Loita ranger teams, with less conflict in the region, monitored the forest for habitat destruction. Similar to the SWT Mau De-Snaring Units deploying their drones to monitor people’s movement within the forest and detect any illegal activities. In one incident, it led to the discovery of charcoal burning, and the team successfully destroyed the kilns. Drones were also deployed to monitor elephants, two of which resulted in treatments.
In June, the MEP mobile ranger team, in collaboration with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Vet Dr. Njoroge from the SWT Mobile Vet Unit, responded to a report of a limping bull elephant in Naboisho Conservancy. The team provided ground and aerial support while Dr. Njoroge treated the elephant for an infected arrow wound. The team also responded to a distress call for a collared elephant named Kiambi in Naboisho Conservancy in May. After noticing a new wound, they joined forces to treat him for an arrow wound. The prognosis for both elephants is positive, and MEP rangers continue to monitor them as they recover.
The MEP / SWT Mau De-Snaring Unit rangers joined the Kenya Forest Service and members of the community to plant trees on National Tree Planting Day in Kenya. The rangers also took the opportunity to act in their roles as ambassadors within the community conducted a drone demonstration and gave informal updates on their activities to people who joined them for tree planting.
“I got the chance to interact with so many people and they were especially excited about seeing a drone demonstration for the first time and I answered a lot of questions on how the drone works."
MEP Charlie team Ranger Cosmas Bett
