In the third quarter, Mara Elephant Project rangers and researchers assisted with 10 elephant treatments. In July, MEP received an alert from Kiambi’s satellite collar indicating his movements had slowed, a possible sign of trouble. Using Kiambi’s real-time movements, the MEP mobile ranger team tracked him to Ol Kinyei Conservancy and immediately deployed their drone to assess the situation. From the air they noted that not only did Kiambi have three visible wounds, another bull nearby bore a serious shoulder injury. The team immediately coordinated a treatment operation with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Vet Dr. Njoroge from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) Mobile Vet Unit and using the MEP helicopter, they assisted the vet team as they darted and treated the two bulls just hours apart. After the successful treatment, both elephants are being closely monitored by MEP and Ol Kinyei Conservancy rangers.
In August, MEP rangers once again partnered with the vet team after receiving an urgent report from our partners at Naboisho Conservancy about a bull elephant in visible distress. Upon assessment, the elephant was found to have sustained an arrow wound. Thanks to quick collaboration between our rangers, KWS, and SWT, the bull was treated promptly. The prognosis is positive, and our rangers continue to monitor them. In September, the MEP ‘Foxtrot’ ranger team monitored a bull elephant limping through Mara North Conservancy. After some observation, they determined he needed immediate treatment. The next day, they assisted the vet team during the treatment for a spear wound, and their monitoring efforts continue.
Additionally, in September, KWS requested MEP’s assistance with a different mission, the translocation of a leopard. The male leopard was hunting sheep in a nearby community, putting the people and their livestock at risk. Trapping leopards, an elusive animal, is no easy feat. They used meat to lure him into the cage and then tranquilized him for a more relaxing journey. He was successfully released in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a much safer area for him and the community.
In terms of training, MEP rangers not only participated in a drone training course, detailed in the CEO Report, but also a three-day First Aid Refresher Course, attended by 28 MEP rangers and researchers. The training, conducted by Flame Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Consultants, was designed to refresh MEP staff on their emergency response skills. By offering this refresher course, MEP reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and well-being of its team members and the communities they serve.
The MEP /SWT Mau De-Snaring Unit, alongside Kenya Forest Service (KFS), removed 70 snares in the month of August alone. They are currently conducting joint patrols that are targeting areas that intelligence has identified have high levels of bushmeat poaching. In the third quarter, 424 total snares were removed, almost half of the annual total.
In total, during the third quarter, MEP drone teams responded to over 150 events across the Mara, totaling 331 hours of drone deployment. These included more than 57 human-elephant conflict incidents, over 100 elephant monitoring exercises, and even one rescue of a lost child. Each of these interventions shows how drone technology is central to MEP’s work in protecting elephants and promoting coexistence.
In terms of monitoring, MEP rangers made an exciting discovery in the third quarter. In the Mau region, the MEP/SWT Mau De-Snaring Unit made a significant breakthrough when they successfully located ‘Alice’, a formerly collared elephant whose satellite signal had gone dark. Confirmed to be roaming between Kithima, Kuresoi, and Chepsir, Alice’s rediscovery was an important reminder of the value drones bring to long-term elephant monitoring.
MEP rangers continued their commitment to work alongside the community to protect wildlife and their habitats in the third quarter. In the lead-up to World Ranger Day, four MEP rangers visited Margaret Olkuroto and Irbaan schools alongside the Wilderness and Governors camp team. They spoke to over 60 eager students about elephants, conservation, and how drones are helping protect wildlife in the Mara. Additionally, in August, MEP trained 236 individuals including rangers and members of the local community on the Virtual Ranger reporting tool across Enoonkishu, Olkimitare, Ng’osuani, Oloonkolin, and Loita. These sessions not only strengthened ranger capacity but also deepened community engagement, reinforcing the importance of integrating local feedback. With continued collaboration, Virtual Ranger has the potential to streamline human-elephant conflict response across the Mara.
Additionally, a young boy was lost, and time was of the essence. Partnering with Enonkishu Conservancy rangers and members of the community, MEP rangers jumped into action and deployed their drone equipped with a speaker to call his name. After 30 minutes of searching, they found the 12-year-old boy unharmed. His family rushed to the scene to embrace him as our rangers looked on. He couldn’t resist a photo op with his rescuers either.
Finally, in September, MEP took that next step and alongside the community, conservation and government partners and a key MEP donor, we officially opened the MEP Loita Ranger Station. This ‘sub-headquarters’ will significantly enhance logistical operations by offering comfortable and practical living quarters for the rangers. It will also establish a permanent presence for MEP near the forest, which is crucial for maintaining proximity to key operational areas to continue our protection efforts.
