The ViewFinder
NEWSLETTER : ISSUE NO 55, MARCH 2009

[ELEPHANTS IN TROUBLE][UNUSUAL VISITOR AT VIEWFINDERS][CLIMATE CHANGE]

ELEPHANTS IN TROUBLE

The following has come from Cynthia Moss, of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants.

We have some very disturbing news from Amboseli. The situation for elephants in the area has become critical over the past year and more particularly over the past four months. Elephants are being wounded and killed by spears, poison arrows and bullets at an alarming rate. For the first time in many years, tusks are being removed by unknown persons. Through our investigations we have discovered that the ivory is being sold at 3000/- shillings ($38) per kilo. Most of the ivory is reported to be going across the border into Tanzania. Unless this killing and the trade are stopped now, the famous Amboseli elephants will be decimated.

That situation is on-going and still desperately needs solutions, but what is now occurring is dramatically and alarmingly different. During 2008 we began to get many more reports of wounded and dead elephants both during periods when crops were growing but also when there were no crops (in this past year of very low rainfall, this has been most of the time). What is particularly disturbing is that dead elephants were found with their tusks removed. In Amboseli when elephants are killed by Maasai in retaliation for people being injured or livestock killed by elephants, the tusks are not taken. We now see tusks pulled out from old carcases or chopped out from fresh carcases. 

During 2008 and the first month of 2009, 44 elephants were reported wounded or killed by spearing, poisoned arrows or bullets. Of these we know that 19 have died. We do not know the fate of most of the other 25 who were wounded. The dead elephants ranged from a four month old calf who was speared dozens of times in a brutal attack to an old matriarch who should have died naturally of old age. Some of the individuals known to be dead have disappeared and we do not know if their tusks were taken. (At the present time there is no aircraft in Amboseli and so carcases are found only by ground survey and reports from Maasai scouts.) Of the 19 carcases that were recorded, the tusks were taken by unknown people in ten cases. This is the first time ivory has been stolen from carcases in Amboseli for many years.

The rate of killing and wounding is accelerating. Already in January and February 2009, four elephants have been wounded, one of which, a large adult male, died and had his tusks chopped out. Several more adult females are missing.

Only two years ago we saw only spear wounds and a few possible bullet wounds, but now we are seeing far more poison arrow wounds and this change is very disturbing. We believe the poison being used is Akocanthera, a deadly toxin made from a common bush found in Kenya. The toxin is frighteningly effective and there is no antidote. An elephant shot with an arrow smeared with this poison dies a long, agonizing death. We are seeing these elephants dying in this way now.

And there is a similar story from the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy:
It is not news that ivory poaching remains a major threat to Kenya's elephant population. Recently, there have been strong indications that it could be on the rise in northern Kenya. In 2008 alone, 47 poaching incidents were reported to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) radio room. The LWC's KPR team recovered 9 weapons and 147 rounds of ammunition. There are also indications that, in one year, in the town of Isiolo, the price of ivory on the black market has increased by 100%.

UNUSUAL VISITOR AT VIEWFINDERS

Hidden away as we are in a Nairobi suburb, we are used to a bit of wildlife in the garden – usually in the form of Sykes monkeys.   The occasional vervet and baboon have also been seen in the past.  In January we received a phone call from Simon Thomsett (raptor expert extraordinaire) who was having his vehicle repaired on the other side of the valley.  He said he was watching a lone male colobus, and estimated that it was no more than 100 metres from our office.  We searched but did not see him.  However, a week later he was here and stayed, eating and roosting in the riverine trees bordering our garden from 24-30 January before disappearing into the forest with some Sykes.    Colobus usually live at higher altitudes, and it is very unusual to see them in Nairobi.  They are usually in small groups, so a lone old male is rare indeed. 

CLIMATE CHANGE

Kenya’s short rains in November fell short, and there has been a severe drought over most of the country for several months now.  Millions of people are suffering, and receiving food aid.  In Tsavo, hippos are dying as there is simply no grass for them to feed on, and wildlife in other areas is also badly affected.  The Meteorological Department says that the long rains (due March-May) will once again be “inadequate”.  We feel that people should start making a more serious effort.   Carbon emissions in this part of the world are not at critical levels, but there is a lot individuals can do.   We are campaigning for people to harvest rainwater – when and if the rains do come.  To those of you in the tropics, we hope the rains come soon, and to those in northern climes, we hope that winter comes to an end before too long.