Animal Welfare Monthly Updates: March & April 2023

Rescue Team Successfully Attend to Varied Animals in Machakos, Kajiado and Laikipia Counties

In the plains of the wilderness, as the wildlife graze and move in search of water. Snares set up in strategic wildlife pathways trap them. The animal is lucky if after a struggle or a pull, it breaks free with the snare. In March, however, a rare occurrence happened. In Maanzoni, Machakos County, a zebra was encountered with two different snares. The adult female zebra had been snared on two separate occasions.

ANAW rescue team in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) veterinary unit, KWS Machakos Station and Manzoni Scouts attended to the case. The team immobilized the animal through darting without any difficulties, the two neck snares successfully removed and luckily there were no injuries caused by the snares and therefore, the animal was reversed and released.

Rescue exercises were carried out in Maanzoni and Muthwani in Machakos and Laikipia counties. A total of seven animals being attended to consisting of three (3) zebras, a white rhino, a lion, a greater kudu and an eland.

In April, two (2) emergency rescue exercises were carried out in Machakos County and Kipeto areas in Kajiado County, that gave a relief to a zebra and a giraffe. The first rescue of a wounded zebra took place in Kipeto area after an ailing zebra was reported by a local teacher at Olchorro Onyiro Primary School who is a local conservation champion in the area. The second rescue involved attending a giraffe with a snare deeply embedded on the foot at Maanzoni Ranch.

Devastating Cases of Human-Elephant Conflict on the Rise in Kasigau

Despite the advent of rains across the country, an influx of human-wildlife conflict took place in some areas of Taita Taveta County. Rampant cases of human wildlife conflict were reported in March with 11 elephants destroying property, food and bomas at Mwarungu area and 12 elephants caused similar destruction in Kiwanjani area. Interestingly, in April, there were no cases that were reported or observed that needed to be attended to.

Due to a well-established relationship with the community members and herders the team received reports of two cases of bush meat poaching at Jogholo and Mbuyuni. Through 26 patrols, the guardians were able to identify some of the hot spot areas for bush meat and other illegal activities and the areas that have higher animal sightings which enables them to plan for the following month’s patrols. These patrols have also helped the guardians to determine the areas that need frequent visits depending on the observations made regarding frequency of the illegal activities and animal sightings in some the areas.

Turtle Conservation Groups Gather Communities in Successful Activities to Protect the Species at the Kenyan Coast

Treacherous and unreachable areas posed a challenge to Msambweni and Funzi Turtle Conservation Groups (TCGs) who conduct frequent patrols on the coastline to ensure that new nests have been secured and protected from human activities and poachers in March and April. This presisposes the area to easy poaching by both human, dogs and some wild animals as the area is isolated, has low population and pose difficulty to access the coastline hence few patrols are usually carried out.

In March, the group recorded one case that was as a result of human poaching in Funzi. Several turtle tracks were observed indicating that some turtles are looking for safer place to lay eggs. In Msambweni, the group recorded their first nest of a green turtle in April and a second green turtle nests in the same month at Msambweni Beach House. The two nests spotted were secured and daily monitored to ensure they hatch successfully. Unfortunately, the Msambweni Turtle Group Chairman came across a dead green turtle which was believed to been caught by fishermen as by catch.

The team celebrated a win in nesting when one nest of a green turtle was safely established at Mzame area in Funzi. This was the second nest since the nesting season begun. A major achievement was also made in marine litter management. In partnership with community members, schools and Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Msambweni Turtle Conservation Group was able to carry out four (4) beach clean ups as a way of securing nesting grounds and protecting the marine ecosystem.

A joint beach cleanup with Msambweni youth group and where 147 kilograms of trash was collected. A different clean up was organized in Vingujini Town Center which was targeted after a worrying trash condition was observed. The trash was usually washed to the sea by the ongoing rains threatened the nesting grounds and marine animal lives. The event by Msambweni youth group was supported by ANAW with resources needed for the activity and 800 kgs of trash was collected. A few community members were able to join in some of the clean ups.

Three groups, Msambweni Turtle Conservation Group,Funzi Turtle Watch and Shimoni Turtle Watch met with ANAW management team where they shared their progress and some of the areas they needed interventions and support in April. The Msambweni group was then presented with a laptop and a projector that they had previously requested to conduct education and awareness in schools and as equipment for informing visitors at their education center. Shimoni turtle watch was also presented with a laptop to help them in their day to day work in turtle conservation.

50 Animal Welfare Cases Attended to in Two Months in Diani, Ukunda – Kwale County

The coastal town of Diani provides a wonderful terrestrial and aquatic home for hundreds of animal and plant species. Colobus Conservation, an organization that provides clinical treatment and care to sick, injured and orphaned primates and other animals.

The month of March and April was no different. A total of 50 animal welfare cases were attended to including colobus monkeys, a bushbaby, an African civet, baboons, vervet monkeys, Sunis, hare and sykes monkeys. The African civet was treated and transferred to another facility.

The team was able to treat a vervet monkey and release it back to the wild. An infant Sykes monkey was re-united with the mother and two (2) vervet monkeys were entered into long term rehabilitation.

A Formidable West Africa Cage Free Conference Held in Ghana

It was a momentous occasion for animals in Africa as ANAW supported by Effective Altruism, and in partnership with the LA Veterinary Clinic and the Ghana Directorate of Veterinary Services conducted a one-day West Africa Chicken Cage Free Conference in Accra, Ghana at G.C Royal Hotel in April. The focus of the conference was to highlight on the status of chicken caged farming in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. Also highlighted was the policy and legal frameworks as well as consumers’ perception on battery cage farming and whether it affects their purchasing power. A total of 40 delegates took part in the event. The exercise was also captured by the Ghanaian local media fraternity that aired across the country.

The month of April also elicited great success as ANAW in partnership with Marsabit County and WTG conducted a donkey clinic exercise in Moyale town, Qalaliwe and Somare villages that saw approximately 1000 donkeys vaccinated against rabies, dewormed and their wounds attended to. Community members were also engaged and sensitized on the importance of enhancing donkey welfare that will contribute to improving their livelihoods.

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