The Wilder Traveller

Category: News

  • Four Dead as International Forces Turn their Backs on Rangers in Need

    It is with deep regret that African Parks announces the death of Garamba rangers Anselme Kimbesa Muhindo, Andre Gada Migifuloyo and Djuma Adalu Uweko, and Colonel Jacques Sukamate Lusengo, the member of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), who was assisting with patrols. The four men leave their wives and a total of 14 children.

    The incident occurred when the men, all members of a 10-man Garamba patrol team, tracked the collar of a poached elephant to a poachers’ camp in the western Azande hunting area. An exchange of fire ensued during which the out-numbered Garamba unit was forced to disperse.

    The African Parks helicopter that was part of the operation was immediately deployed to help rescue the rangers. Despite coming under fire it managed to retrieve six members of the patrol unit and drop them at a safe area where they re-grouped. Two men were flown back to the park headquarters at Nagero, one of whom had sustained injuries. The helicopter took multiple hits and was unable to fly back for the remaining men. The four rangers that were evacuated managed to walk to the closest road, a two day walk from the site of the attack. Yesterday, the bodies of the remaining four men were discovered when a reinforced patrol team managed to access the site of the incident.

    Despite extensive efforts by the Garamba park management team to elicit reinforcements from other international forces in the region in order to help retrieve the four missing men, and track and apprehend the poachers, very little support or assistance was forthcoming. Some logistical help was provided by MONUSCO to retrieve the bodies of the four men.

    “Our sincere condolences go to the families of the four men who tragically lost their loved ones while they were bravely eliminating the scourge of elephant poaching from Garamba National Park“, said Peter Fearnhead, CEO African Parks.  “This brings to eight the number of people who have lost their lives in Garamba in 2015 alone.”

    Guest Contributor:

    Cynthia Walley is the Communications Manager for African Parks that takes on total responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks and protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities.

    Image credit: African Parks.

  • Lions Return to Rwanda

    People know lions as the most dangerous prey eater in the wild but when it comes to beauty, no one can resist its naturally sport light yellow-brown coats which out shine the green grass and vegetation in the jungle. The most desired encounter in Africa game viewing are the lions especially if moving as a family. The males are always looking unique and always lead others to grab the prey.

    Mature lions are too protective and care for their young ones like humans that they can’t hunt until one year old. Besides, the elders can steal, kill for the young ones to survive in the wild. In the entire world, lions are celebrated in history and their existence make the wild the most adorable place to spent time with family on any holiday as you view lions and other wildlife flex to survive in the wild.

    Today lions have made Rwanda the most excellent wildlife viewing destination in Africa offering amazing wildlife tours together with birds and primates to travellers. After a short while of Rwanda lion reintroduction in Akagera National park, the great news came with joy that when the park female lions are set to give birth creating a complete family of lions with cubs for Rwanda wildlife tourists.The expectant lioness that was imported last year from South Africa is set to bring a new family members which will spice up more the all the Rwanda game viewing tours for travelers year round.

    It was in 2015 when Rwanda celebrated the reintroduction of seven lions five female and two male wiping away the sorrow of travelers who could travel millions of miles to catch up with lion viewing in the neighboring countries of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The attractive Big cats in the savanna grassland are grand prize to Akagera National Park and Rwanda as a country after a long time decline in wildlife population.

    “There is an excitement at the Park as the lionesses introduced last year are showing signs they will deliver cubs very soon. The behavior of two lionesses shows that they are pregnant and may give birth soon.

    This is an important milestone in wildlife conservation,” Jes Gurner, manager of Akagera National Park told reporters on Wednesday. The park manager also observed the lion bellies becoming relatively massive, and their movements declined which are common signs of mature pregnancy and holding just on await list of delivery.

    The Wildlife conservationist added joy to the celebration when they said that a single female lion can produce over four cubs though the chances of survival are minimal due to wild predators, like hyenas in the park. Besides, lately lions in Akagera are easily spotted because the pregnant females move slowly giving chance to game viewing tourists to capture exciting moments.

    However, travelers looking at visiting Rwanda for primate safaris to see mountain gorillas ,golden monkeys and chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest should now starting adding on other exciting game viewing activities in Akagera national park  for an outstanding Rwanda safari.

    For bird lovers this is a place to be where one can spot hundreds of different bird species including the epidemics. Relaxation and leisure by lake, climbing the Rwanda volcanoes and a culture exploration are other travel activities which one shouldn’t miss out while in Rwanda .Don’t forget climbing any of the Rwanda volcanoes, karisimbi, bisoke and others needs when you fit enough.

    The Big five fans, the time is out for you to visit Rwanda because even rare black rhinos will soon be in Akagera national park the only Rwanda special wildlife viewing ground. The process of reintroducing missing wildlife species in Rwanda has boosted Rwanda’s tourism industry attracting more tourists compared to the previous years when the Rwanda Development board registered revenue receipts worth 304.9 million U.S dollars.

    Rwanda hosted a total number of about 1.22 million visitors in the same year but the number is anticipated to shoot high due to the new picture the country has got in the tourism industry and business aspect. While in on Rwanda wildlife safari to all the country’s attractive parks, expect to see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, zebras, giraffes, hippo, antelopes, buffaloes, elephants ,golden monkeys and many others.

  • More Seals Saved from the Threat of Ghost Fishing Nets

    Many marine wildlife groups working in Cornwall often get calls about sighting of seals who are injured, or entangled in fishing gear, or marine litter.

    Over the last month, British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and the National Trust received several calls about a seal entangled in lost fishing gear but despite repeated search attempts by BDMLR, the seal in question could not be found. A concern to all as injuries from entanglement are known to end the life of a seal prematurely.

    On Saturday 25 April another trip was undertaken to find the stricken seal and when the groups arrived at the beach they found not one, but two entangled seals, one on the beach at the West Cornwall haul out and another out to sea.

    Despite facing rain and slippery rocks, the team from BDMLR, Cornwall Seal Group and a rope safety adviser abseiled down a 45m cliff to the beach in order to save the seals, whose injuries would have certainly lead to their premature death.

    Seals are spooked by humans very easily and can move incredibly fast over land, so the rescuers waited cautiously until both seals were on the beach, out of sight from the abseil point and in a position that they could be reached before the seals were aware of human presence.

    With years of experience in handling marine mammals, the team were able to free both the seals from the dangerous netting and rope and after assessing their condition they were able to release them safely back into the sea.

    Sue Sayer, from the Cornwall Seal Group, said: “One of the seals was a few months old and had green trawl net trapped around her neck whilst the other seal was slightly older at a year, with blue rope trailing from several loops of monofilament net entangling her neck. Our research shows that neither of these young seals would have survived to adult hood with their entanglements.”

    The BDMLR and CSG work closely with international campaigning organisation, World Animal Protection, who have a campaign to free the seas of ghost fishing gear. ‘Ghost gear’ is the term used to describe fishing equipment that has been lost, abandoned or discarded in the worlds’ oceans. It includes fishing nets, ropes, pots and traps. Ghost gear represents one of the biggest threats to animals in our oceans, entangling, injuring and killing millions of animals every year.

    An estimated 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear – around 10% of total marine debris – is added to our oceans annually. Combined, it weighs more than the RMS Titanic.

    Most fishing gear is made out of plastic meaning that it persists in the oceans for centuries, accumulating year on year. World Animal Protection estimates that more than 136,000 seals, sea lions and large whales are killed by ghost fishing gear every year. An unimaginable number of birds, turtles, fish and other species are also injured and killed.

    Guest contributor:

    Sarah Dickinson is the UK Communications Manager (interim) at World Animal Protection World Animal Protection (formerly WSPA) seeks to create a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty has ended.

  • New Report Examines $2 billion Bear Trade

    A new report assessing the $2 billion a year trade in bears and their parts reveals the scale of the illegal trade. Produced by Interpol the report demonstrates some of the methods that illegal traffickers use to get their products through borders and to their customers.

    It’s not just dead products and bear parts that are part of the growing trade in bears. One example highlighted by the Interpol report featured a bear smuggler trying to move live bear cubs from South Yunnan to Chengdu. Officials discovered 22 moon bears – Asiatic black bears – in the back of the car. The trafficker tried to pass the bear cubs off as Akita puppies.

    In another incident, reported to Interpol as part of their assessment into the trade, officials reported discovering 200 bear paws hidden in the inside of a car tyre.

    The “Assessment on Illegal Bear Trade” report by INTERPOL’s Environmental Security unit highlights in particular how poaching and the illegal trade of bears, their parts and derivatives continue on a large scale worldwide.

    The Head of INTERPOL’s Environmental Security unit, David Higgins, said: “Improving enforcement coordination, from legislation to investigation, can have a considerable impact on syndicates involved in the trade. A unified planning process with a cooperative multinational enforcement efforts bringing together police, customs and wildlife law enforcement units is crucial if we want to dismantle the complex networks of individuals”.

    The new report was produced with help and funding from the Humane Society Australia. Michael Kennedy, Campaign Director for Humane Society International (HSI – Australia) said: “HSI commends the work of INTERPOL in effectively assessing global enforcement needs, promoting coordinated responses, and offering its global expertise and help to combat this environmentally and socially debilitating trade. HSI looks forward to working with all countries affected by these criminal activities”.

    The report shows that the most poached and smuggled bear of the 8 bear species is the moon bear or Asiatic black bear. The scale of the poaching of bears though and the growth in the markets of Asia means that all 8 bear species are being targeted. Parts for American black bears, polar bears and brown bears can all be found in the Asian markets meeting the demand of traditional medicines.

    Collation of reports of live bears seizures showed that these tended to occur in the Asian source countries and the majority of living bears seized were on their way to bear bile farms with smaller numbers on their way to the pet trade, circuses or street entertainment as dancing bears.

    The report also demonstrates why bears and bear products trading is international in nature. Whole bear gall bladder in China where there is a legal domestic market is valued at $4,000 per kilo. In Japan that same bear gall bladder can fetch $100,000 per kilo. The profits involved makes bear products attractive to international crime  syndicates. In another example bear bile powder in China can fetch $20,000 per kilo while in Japan the same product can fetch $400,000 per kilo – compared with gold at $41,000 per kilo.

    Products from wild bears are in particular demand. Wild bear bile can fetch up to 65 times more than a farmed bear. This is put down to farmed bears being kept in such poor conditions that their products are inferior and poor quality.

    One of the concerning trends picked up by the report is that historically most bear products tended to originate in China. There is a growing trend now for products to also originate from Russia.

  • Rare Whale confirmed in the wild for the first time

    Known only from DNA samples from whaling samples and the occasional body from a stranding scientists for the first time have confirmed a sighting of a rare whale.

    The Omura’s whales live off the coast of Madagascar and are often confused for the Bryde’s whales because they look so much alike. Scientists though have made the first field observations of this rare whale and published their results in Royal Society Open Science journal.

    The study describes the behaviour of feeding in the shallow waters off the coast of Madagascar and also describes the vocalisations of the whales.

    While the Omura’s whale is similar to the Bryde’s whale there are distinct differences allowing people to recognise the species. The Omura’s is smaller than the Brydes and most noticeable are the distinct markings around the lower jaw. The Omura’s have a white marking on the left side of the jaw and a dark marking on the right side.

    The species was set apart from other whales as recently as 2003 when DNA samples from whaling victims were analysed. The data was further confirmed with samples taken from strandings on the Pacific coast  but no confirmed sightings of the species in the wild had been made until this study.

    “Over the years, there have been a small handful of possible sightings of Omura’s whales, but nothing that was confirmed,” says lead author Salvatore Cerchio, who led the research while at the Wildlife Conservation Society. He is now at the New England Aquarium (NEAQ) and a guest investigator at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). “They appear to occur in remote regions and are difficult to find at sea because they are small–they range in length from approximately 33 to 38 feet–and do not put up a prominent blow.”

    “What little we knew about these whales previously came primarily from eight specimens of Omura’s whales taken in Japanese scientific whaling off the Solomon and Keeling Islands and a couple strandings of dead animals in Japan,” Cerchio adds. “This is the first definitive evidence and detailed descriptions of Omura’s whales in the wild and part of what makes this work particularly exciting.”

    Cericho and his team of marine researchers believe that they may have seen a Omura’s whale back in 2011 but like so many mis-identified it as a Bryce’s whales. Because so little is known of the whale the are no figures yet as to just how rare this species is in the wild. One reason for the mis-identification is that it was not believed that Madagascar was in the range of the Omura’s whale.

    Once the first sighting was made in 2013 the team soon saw more of the species in the waters and started to recognise the physical markings that made the Omura’s recognisable.

    Between 2013 and 2015 the researchers were able to study 44 groups of whales in Madagascar’s waters. They were also able to photo-id 25 individuals. Research is set to continue this year with the researchers hoping to be able to get a more accurate estimate of the local population and do further studies in behaviour and vocalisations.

    Cerchio also hopes to work with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) in deploying a series of hydrophones to be able to better understand the range of the Omura’s whale.

  • Kenyan Poachers go back to the future using spears and arrows

    Modern technology is changing the way the poachers in Kenya go about their business killing elephants. Sadly this was shown on Sunday with the discovery of a still warm body of a 30-year-old tusker that had been killed by poachers and its tusks had been removed. The elephant had been killed by a poisoned spear.

    As modern technology becomes available to rangers to protect wildlife the poachers are changing tactics and going back to traditional methods of killing elephants. Gone are the AK-47s and back are the poisoned arrows and spears.

    Modern technology means that sensors can be placed around national parks that can instantly pin-point the sound of a rifle or shot-gun being fired. This allows rangers to be deployed quickly and increases the ability of law enforcement to stop the poacher. Poisoned spears and arrows though make no sound and gives the poacher an advantage.

    It is a method of poaching the Kenyan Wildlife Service has noticed increasing in recent months. The latest incident of the new – or renewed – method was experienced on Sunday at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy where a 30-year-old elephant was killed. It is thought the poachers arrived at the park through the southern boundaries

    Kenya Wildlife Service Director, William Kiprono, highlighted the change in tactics late last month while on a visit to a wildlife conservancy, “As KWS, we have noted some emerging worrying trends where poachers invent new methods of silently killing the animals to avoid raising suspicion among security agencies,”

    While on the visit to Rimoi National Game Reserve he asked that the public keep their eyes open for people carrying arrows and spears while in or close to wildlife reserves as they could be out poaching elephants.

    While spears and arrows have been used before by poachers there has been an upsurge in the numbers of elephants being seen with spear and arrow wounds. Early this year a pregnant elephant was found dead after being killed with a poisoned arrow in Kenya and in June two elephants were discovered on the Maasai Mara National Reserve. One elephant still had a spear lodged in his head and his companion had spear wounds to their legs. The two elephants were treated by staff from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

    In March one of Kenya’s great tuskers, a 40 year old male named Mshale was speared by poachers and survived a fourth attempt on his life. He had previously been speared twice before and also hit with poisoned arrows.

    Satao one of Kenya’s last of the great tuskers was found dead earlier this year. He had been brought down by poisoned arrows and his face hacked away to get at his tusks which reached almost to the ground.

    Another big tusker, Torn Ear of Chyulus Hills Reserve in Kenya, was killed earlier this year by poisoned arrows. While the poachers did not get to the tusks as the elephant made it to a tourist lodge he frequented before having to be put down by vets.

    In May the iconic elephant, Mountain Bull, of Mount Kenya, was killed by a spear. The 46-year-old elephant was well-known and had learned how to tackle electric fences that got in his way while on migration. He learned that by rolling up his trunk and using his tusks which did not conduct electricity he could tear up the fences without getting hurt or feeling pain.

    Iconic elephants of Kenya are no longer falling prey to the rifles and shot-guns but they have a deadly and silent enemy in the arrow and spear that makes it harder for rangers to track and intercept the activity of the poacher.

  • Major in South Sudan Wildlife Service feared kidnapped

    Local radio in South Sudan is reporting that a major in the South Sudan Wildlife Service has gone missing with reports that he may have been kidnapped. His last known movements was traveling on a motorcycle to the service headquarters to pick up wages for staff.

    Major William Kuol Angui is the commander of wildlife services in the Bazia region. The incident is reported to have happened on Sunday night as he travelled between Taban and Busiri in Wau County.

    Currently there are limited details and no official confirmation has been made by the authorities.

    The Bahr el Ghazal region where the major went missing is found in the west of the newly formed Republic of South Sudan. It borders the Central Africa Republic and also borders the region of Darfur in Sudan. The Darfur region is the base of known poaching gangs associated with the janjaweed But the entire region is associated with militias and different groups following the ending of the civil war.

  • Head of Law Enforcement at Liuwa Park Shot Dead by Suspected Poachers

    African Parks regrets to announce the tragic death on Friday 23 May of Dexter Chilunda, Park Ranger in charge of law enforcement, at Liuwa Plain National Park in Zambia. He was on secondment from the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to African Parks Zambia. Dexter was shot in the chest by a suspected poacher after investigating gunshots that had been heard by park rangers stationed at an outpost in the park.

    It is believed that Dexter encountered two poachers in the central area of the park, one of whom shot him at close range with a shotgun. Police and park rangers investigating the incident have followed tracks leading from the scene and are following up concrete leads. A reward of 60 000 Kwacha ($10,000) has also been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit.

    The park management team was informed of the shooting at 9.00am on Friday and rushed to the scene whilst putting emergency evacuation plans in place. Police were also informed of the shooting and three police officers were immediately dispatched to investigate. Every effort was made to assist the critically injured officer, but he was sadly pronounced dead on arrival at the park’s Matamanene Camp, from where he was to have been airlifted to Livingstone. Park management had arranged for a medivac jet to airlift Dexter from Livingstone to hospital in Johannesburg for emergency treatment.

    “A wife lost her husband, four children are without their father, and we lost an outstanding colleague who was passionate about conservation and deeply committed to the protection of wildlife at Liuwa,” said African Parks CEO, Peter Fearnhead.

    “We will do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice.  Dexter Chilunda’s untimely death is a testimony to the sacrifice of people, like him, who are willing to make every effort to keep Africa’s last remaining wilderness areas safe.”

    Dexter’s wife and children will be financially provided for in terms of the life-insurance policy put in place by African Parks.

  • Did Zimbabwe wildlife rangers shoot on sight – and do we care?

    Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) confirmed yesterday that their rangers did shoot and kill 2 poachers in a follow-up operation while investigating the deaths of 6 elephants. The families of the 2 poachers claim that there was no need for the rangers to shoot at close range as they were not challenging the rangers.

    The rangers moved in on the 3rd December while 5 men suspected of killing the elephants were sat down and eating lunch. 3 of the men managed to escape but 2 were killed in the operation.

    The 2 killed were known poachers and the operation recovered 6 pairs of elephant tusks, guns, ammunition and mortar bombs from the premises.

    The two killed were Andrew Mapfumo and Last Stephanie. Mapfumo had been involved in elephant poaching since 2005 and had spent time in prison for poaching.

    The families of the killed poachers have made complaints to local media saying that when the wildlife rangers arrived at the scene the suspects were sat down eating lunch and were not resisting arrest. They are also complaining that the post-mortem did not indicate that the poachers were shot at close range.

    Zimparks spokesperson Caroline Washaya-Moyo said at the release of the news that despite the fact that rangers are underfunded and under-resourced  that the rangers “… are more than willing and ready to bring the country’s conservation efforts back on track”

    She also announced that another poacher from Zambia was killed by the ranger service on Sunday during operations in Katombola, Hwange National Park.

    If the actions of the rangers is a sign of a new get tough policy in Zimbabwe then it can only be welcomed.