The November 2021 Aerial Surveillance Report has shed light on the dire consequences of the ongoing drought in the Greater Tsavo Conservation Area.
Despite sporadic rain showers in the northeast region of Tsavo East National Park, most of the park remained parched throughout the month, deviating from the usual onset of the rainy season in late October or early November.
This prolonged dry spell has significantly affected wildlife and livestock populations, with eland herds in Tsavo West National Park facing especially severe challenges.
A particularly distressing revelation from the report is the discovery of six elephant carcasses in Tsavo East National Park, all suspected casualties of the unforgiving drought.
Regrettably, these numbers represent only a fraction of the elephant fatalities reported by various stakeholders, including ground teams, tour operators, and pilots who encountered carcasses daily throughout November. Tragically, a significant portion of these casualties were young elephant calves.
Amid the grim statistics of animal losses, there is also hope. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) embarked on rescue missions, saving three orphaned elephant calves in Tsavo.
Among them, one calf was found trapped in a mud hole, another collapsed from exhaustion, and a third stood beside its deceased mother, a victim of the drought. Despite their best efforts, a fourth young calf from Satao could not be saved.
However, the SWT’s dedicated teams managed to rescue two more orphaned elephant calves from Mount Kenya and Dol Dol, utilizing helicopters and the Caravan aircraft.
Additionally, a request was received to rescue a premature baby hippo near a dwindling pond in Tana River County. However, sadly, the hippo’s life was short-lived after arrival at the nursery.
The Aerial Unit also played a vital role in medical care for injured animals. One notable case involved an elephant with a spear wound on its neck.
The team administered successful treatment, and the elephant’s prognosis for recovery is excellent. Another female elephant was spotted on Teita Estate, bearing multiple spear wounds.
She, too, was darted for treatment, though her prognosis remains guarded due to the severity of her injuries.
Dr. Poghon from the SWT/KWS Tsavo Veterinary Unit was flown to Ithumba to treat ex-orphan Sidai, who had returned with a newborn calf and a poison arrow wound. For the full story on Sidai’s treatment, read on.
Remarkably, despite the harsh drought conditions, there has been minimal evidence of poaching in Tsavo East or West National Parks.
However, large-scale charcoal operations were observed on Galana and Kulalu Ranches. Conservation efforts by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) helped alleviate livestock pressure along the Tiva River.
Helicopter teams responded to nine human-elephant conflict callouts and successfully moved one group of bulls 12 kilometers to safety.
In contrast to the challenges, November was a relatively quiet month for the SWT, with only two fire incidents requiring their attention.
During their patrols, the team had the thrill of spotting an astonishing 41 rhinos on one occasion. They also had multiple sightings of packs of wild dogs, some as large as twenty individuals.
Pilots encountered lions regularly and even stumbled upon two honey badgers during one of their sightings.
As the Greater Tsavo Conservation Area perseveres through this arid spell, the efforts of dedicated organizations and individuals offer hope for the precious wildlife and livestock that call this region home.