Wildlife poaching is a massive and very serious global issue. We’ve discussed different ways GPS technology is used to help combat these devastatingly destructive menaces. Using funds from charity, a new effort using man-power combined with GPS tracking and other technology, is making a pretty big difference in parts of East Africa. The UK-based publication, The Independent, successfully ran a campaign to raise money and man-power for the protection of endangered wildlife in Kenya.
Elephants are a primary target for poachers in Africa. For one thing, their size makes them fairly easy to find. But the true reason is their white ivory tusks. Killing elephants for their ivory is illegal and has been for a long time. Still, the black market for the material is booming with a high demand and high price fetched for the ivory. “Thieves and bandits go into the local communities,” Simon Eturen said, “and if the poaching goes on at the present rate then we will lose the wildlife. There have been many, many carcasses.”
Despite serious ecological consequences that will likely result from extensive poaching, the illegal market is thriving. Poachers are happy to risk their lives, not to mention take the lives of innocent elephants and the people dedicated to protecting them, in order to make a profit. It is quite a profit, at that. Currently, the price per ounce of ivory is greater than that of an ounce of gold. In order to help balance the scales, Space for Giants, a Kenya-based conservation charity, has developed rapid-response teams to guard the elephants against poachers.
“At the moment this is the Wild West,” explained Max Graham, Space for Giants founder. “If you look at the distribution of carcasses this spot [West Laikipia] is the hole. The poachers have been acting with immunity here for the last three years. These new teams will make all the difference — and quickly.” In areas where the quick-response rangers are available, poaching has dropped by 65%. WIth funds raised by The Independent, this protected area can now be expanded to include West Laikipia – a hot-spot for poachers.
When the call for recruits went out, people from all over West Laikipia came to help protect the native wildlife from poachers. Looking for the best of the best, the charity organizers weeded through the dozens of applications. The recruits were tested on their physical as well as mental stamina. Everyone was thoroughly screened for any possible link to poaching gangs to ensure that there won’t be any sabotage. After the intense screening process, only 19 candidates remained from which to select two teams of six wildlife rangers. They also ensured that each team was made up of a mix of local tribes. This way, all local communities are represented, which also helps foster better trust and communication between the tribes.
It wasn’t too long ago that poachers were hunting elephants with bow and arrows. Recently, however, their weapons have improved. It’s now common for poachers to use AK-47s on elephants and any humans trying to protect the wildlife. It truly is like a war-zone in some parts of Africa, simply over the ivory black market. The dangers posed by protecting the wildlife creates a huge deterrent for the normal authorities to do their jobs. “At present it’s no-man’s-land here,” said a former SAS sergeant major and part of the task force. “The police don’t patrol it. The wildlife services don’t come.”
Once trained, the task force will spend two-weeks at a time in the bush, tracking poachers. Because of this grueling schedule, the training was equally intense. The three-day boot camp began with an eight-mile run. After that, the would-be rangers had to alternate short bursts of running with difficult sets of push-ups. They were also trained in weapons and combat, as well as first aid and team-working skills. Last but not least, the rangers were required to carry a massive log all the way down, and then back up a valley. “Every one of them busted a gut,” the former SAS sergeant major, tasked with overseeing the training, said proudly. “They’re keen as hell. The right training, the right equipment: they’ll solve the problem here.”
The money raised for Space for Giants is going towards paying and training the elite team of poacher trackers and wildlife protection agents. The members of the task force were given rifles to protect themselves (mostly German G3s), since run-ins with poachers often result in firefight. They were also equipped with top-of-the-line medical gear and radio devices for communication. Space for Giants also paid to attached local elephants with GPS tracking collars. This way, a team will be notified if an elephant is entering into a poacher’s hot-spot, so they can act quickly to protect it. The funds are also being used for community education programs, to help spread good information about elephants and the need to preserve them.
Elephant Poaching Drops 65% in Newly Protected Parts of Kenya
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