So far in 2012 we have found four elephant carcasses in the Chiawa Game Management Area, of these one, found north of Royal Airstrip, has been confirmed as poached. Although Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) patrol teams were close on the heels of the poachers as soon as gun shots were heard unfortunately there were no recoveries. The three other carcasses died of currently unknown causes but one is suspected to have been a fighting related death and the other two are suspected poisoning. In the Lower Zambezi National Park one carcass has been found. The cause of death is as yet unknown but ZAWA vets have responded quickly to take samples and ascertain cause of death. This month we have also lost a hippo to poaching in the Park and ZAWA vets visited the area to take sample of another hippo carcass and buffalo carcass. Thank you to all those who have reported and assisted in these operations, especially well done to Rabson Tembo, CLZ Communications Officer who coordinated the response.

Valentine’s Darting Date for CLZ

A different kind of cupid’s arrow was received by a Lower Zambezi elephant this Valentine’s Day. After a bull, approximately 20 years old, was reported to have been seen severely injured in the Nkalange area of the Lower Zambezi National Park, CLZ organised for Zambia Wildlife Authority Vet, Dr. Harvey Kasmboyi to be flown in on 14 February to dart and treat the elephant.

The bull was located quickly and although still in quite good condition he was suffering significantly from the wire snare embedded in its front right leg and was unable to move easily. After a very efficient darting from Dr. Kasmboyi the wire was removed from the leg and the wound cleaned. The bull was administered with long-acting antibiotics to help him recover from the otherwise fatal injury. Within forty minutes of being sedated the elephant was back on his feet and recovery prospects are hoped to be high.

CLZ will continue to monitor the bull’s progress. Thank you very much to Dr. Kasmboyi as ever for his assistance as well as his research assistants Mr. Daniel Mwizabi. Thank you too to pilot Brad Reid for flying in Dr. Kasmboyi.

We also had reports of a much younger snared calf and spent the afternoon trying to relocate the calf. However due to thick bush at this time of year aerial and road tracking was not successful but we will continue the search.

CLZ Red Hot Chilli Planting!

On 1 February, CLZ spent a long hot day in the local village of Mugurameno. Sarah, Brad, Besa, Bren and Joseph helped local farmers to plant chilli seedlings that have been very kindly produced by Zambeef at Chiawa (with the seed being kindly donated by South Luangwa Conservation Society www.slcszambia.org). This project is being funded by CSEF www.csefzambia.org as part of CLZ’s Environmental Education Program.

The two local farmers Joseph Liempe and Patrick Shawa were chosen from a community survey because they have both suffered heavily from human elephant conflict (“HEC” = crop-raiding elephants) in the past. CLZ will assist in crop growing (e.g. planting and sustainable irrigation using the treadle pump provided by CLZ in the pics) as well as providing mitigation methods training in due course. Next year these farmers intend to use a combination of methods to protect crops from crop-raiding eles e.g. chilli fences and chilli burning blocks.

Initially this is a small-scale project, but we hope to increase our HEC activities, if we can secure future funds and once we have more practical knowledge of the risks and possible solutions.

HEC has been recognised as a major threat to the elephants and people of Southern Africa and must be addressed in the context of elephant conservation. Simple, low-cost and locally adapted methods have been shown to reduce site-specific conflict so that people and elephants can live together without danger and destruction.

Thanks very much to Ant Wells and Bren Graham at Zambeef Chiawa, SLCS and CSEF!

Successful Elephant Calf “Bezi” relocation

On Sunday 15 January 2012, just over two months after his initial rescue, elephant calf “Bezi” has been successfully relocated from Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) base camp to Elephant Orphanage Project (EOP) – Lilayi, Lusaka.

Now approximately four months old, having been treated and vaccinated against Anthrax (a naturally occurring disease present in the Lower Zambezi in 2011) Bezi was flown to Lusaka yesterday attended by Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) vet Dr. Harvey Kamboyi. After a slightly longer than expected quarantine period at CLZ, last week ZAWA and the Zambian Government Veterinary Department gave CLZ and the EOP permission to move the elephant calf to his new home. At Lilayi, Bezi will become the newest and youngest member of the now four-strong herd of orphan elephant calves. He will enjoy walks with his new friends and be looked after by the EOP team, one of whom, Lasick – he already knows very well!

During his 2 months at CLZ a combined team of CLZ and EOP carers have tirelessly fed Bezi a complex formula every 2 hours, cleaned wounds, taken temperatures, recorded behaviour and played with Bezi around the clock. It is thanks to them that his condition was stabilised and although he is still underweight it is hoped that Bezi will now gain strength and friends in his new environment! Ultimately it is intended that these calves will move to Kafue and be reintegrated into the wild.

Huge thanks to all at the EOP – Sport Beattie, Rachael Murton, Tanya Shober; Robert Stacey and Royal Air Charters for transporting Bezi from Royal Airstrip to Lusaka free of charge; and all at ZAWA and the Vet Department for their expert assistance.

Elephants might fly after all!

EYES IN THE SKIES: AERIAL PATROL

Brad Reid, Bush Pilot Extraordinaire, joined us back at CLZ for November and December and helped us out with flying our Cessna 172 Reims Rocket during aerial patrols over both the national park and the game management area. The plane is an invaluable tool against poaching both as a rapid response facility, back-up support for foot patrol teams and as a deterrence for illegal hunters in the area. Carcasses and poaching camps, which might remain undetected, can be spotted easily from the air.  As soon as the plane is Zambian registered we will be up in the air again – eyes in the skies!

This month reported illegal activities have been low and currently we have not had any elephant carcasses reported. This brings our annual total of reported poached elephant carcasses in the Park and GMA this year to 22 (at the time of publication). Well done also to Eland Team (Luangwa Command Control) who had a contact on 16 December and recovered one muzzle loader and bushmeat.