ON THE GROUND: Rukinga Wildlife Conservancy’s Anti-poaching efforts & Desnaring activities

The greatest threat facing wildlife conservation around Tsavo is poaching and changing land-use options. It is estimated that about 200 small antelopes (Dik-diks, Impalas etc) are poached daily within the ecosystem. The area has also experienced a sharp increase in human population largely blocking movement of wildlife such as elephants.

Since 1999 and together with other stakeholders we have been involved in the establishment of Taita-Rukinga Conservancy covering 170,000 acres of wildlands. The conservancy forms part of a wildlife migration corridor between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks.

We have been carrying out research on large mammals and vegetation monitoring thus helping to improve security and keep off poachers and illegal charcoal burning. Our volunteers and participants have also been taking part in removing snares set up by poachers within the conservancy. To date, they have removed 1,123 snares and helped to rescue all sorts of wildlife on the verge of death.

Apart from supporting anti-poaching and de-snaring activities, TDC has helped to improve security by supporting patrol rangers and maintaining a 24-hr High Frequency (HF) Radio. We have also acquired and mounted a Very High Frequency (VHF) on top of Mt. Kasigau to help improve communication with all the adjacent ranches in Tsavo region.