In the third quarter, Mara Elephant Project rangers responded to more conflict incidents than the entire first half of 2024 combined. Rangers continue to adapt by leveraging advancing technology to address these growing challenges. One such technology is drones and thanks to an outpouring of support in August for World Elephant Day, MEP can now provide each of the nine ranger teams with two thermal drones and the research team with two drones dedicated to their efforts. MEP can also train 60% of the workforce to operate drones.
In the third quarter, MEP drone pilots were actively responding to the escalating conflict situations across all areas of operations. The drones were also used to closely monitor elephants for injuries and played a pivotal role in several interventions. While on patrol in August, the MEP “Golf” ranger team monitored collared elephant Fred with an open wound on his left hind limb. Deploying a drone, they were able to capture detailed photographs of the wound to send to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Vet Dr. Njoroge from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) Mobile Vet Unit. MEP immediately joined forces in the air and on the ground to treat him.
In September, the same team monitored a young calf that was suffering from an arrow wound and separated from his herd. They called in the same team to successfully treat him and luckily, he soon rejoined his herd. Over one day in September, MEP rangers assisted our partners in the air and on the ground with three wildlife treatments in one day. Alongside KWS Vet Dr. Njoroge from the SWT Mobile Vet Unit and Naboisho Conservancy rangers, two bull elephants were treated for suspected spear wounds, and a giraffe was freed from what appeared to be a car belt/tire stuck on its neck. As wildlife interactions with communities increase, MEP is grateful to have partners and tools that support our commitment to wildlife protection.
MEP’s conservation drone program is a sought-after resource for other organizations looking to learn best practices for deploying drones to support conservation efforts. In September we supported Mara North Conservancy by deploying a drone to photograph and count livestock inside the bomas to provide data to conservancy managers to make informed decisions. In July, MEP assisted the Mara Hyena Project by deploying drones to locate and monitor hyena dens in the Mara Triangle after recent rains made the terrain hard to traverse.
Training is another key element to a success program. Expert Drones Africa hosted a week-long drone training course at Mara Elephant Project’s headquarters for staff from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Big Life Africa, and Natural State. Participants learned about drone operations and their applications in conservation.
The other technology MEP launched in the third quarter is called Virtual Ranger. It’s an AI Chat Bot available for free on the messaging app Telegram that is designed to help members of the community report human-elephant conflict incidents to MEP rangers. Efforts are underway to roll out this new tool locally.
Forests are home to a variety of plants and animals, including elephants, and habitat destruction like illegal charcoal production threatens their very existence. In the third quarter, MEP rangers partnered for joint patrols in these forests with KWS, Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the Narok County Government (NCG) and in August alone together they seized 63 bags, arrested 21 suspects transporting them, and recovered 2,302 illegal posts adding to their 2024 impact. The MEP/SWT Mau De-Snaring Units alongside partners KWS, KFS, and the Bongo Surveillance Project have been patrolling the Mau Forest to deter poaching and habitat destruction and removed over 100 snares in the third quarter.
Overall, in the third quarter MEP rangers alongside government partners had the below impact.
MEP rangers were proud to participate for the first time ever in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge organized by Tusk and the Game Rangers Association of Africa. MEP had both a male and female ranger team that showed extraordinary determination, resilience and team spirit as they took on the 21 km race. MEP’s male team, carrying 22 kg backpacks, finished the half marathon in 2:29:21, while the ladies, each carrying 10 kg, completed it in 3:14:36. MEP thanks Tusk and all organizers for this incredible initiative supporting rangers.
Finally, a rare and interesting ranger story from the third quarter. MEP’s community ranger on the ground in Marmanet received a rare call on September 14 that an 11-foot (3.4 meter) southern African rock python was found navigating through the crops of a local farm. Alongside KWS, he immediately responded, and the team gently collected the adult python, which can weigh between 50-60 lbs. (23-28 kg), and relocated it to the Lake Bogoria National Park.
