STE Field Officer The mortality survey involves recording elephant carcasses since 1997 by visiting and making detailed a MIKE report for each.
Carcasses are found by perusing through documents and records at KWS Stations, written messages from the private and community conservancies, elders, women, warriors and children. Together with a field assistant and the local guides, we travel either by foot or vehicle to find the carcass. Each skeleton is photographed and assessed to determine age of animal at death. Tissue samples are collected for lab analysis.
Since January 2002, I have built a very wide network of volunteers and collaborators throughout the ecosystem. June 26th and 27th: I went to Shaba National Reserve to find the remains of two elephants that died in May 2003. Important Meetings I attended three important meetings this month: MIKE Review Meeting at Bomen Hotel 4th to 5th June 2003; MIKE database training workshop 15th to 20th June 2003; Laikipia Wildlife Forum Meetings on 21st June 2003 MIKE Forum for Wardens in Samburu-Laikipia ecosystem: I was asked to Chair the two day meeting attended by 4 District Wardens and MIKE Site Officers within the ecosystem. Through SWOT analysis, the meeting evaluated MIKE specifically in the ecosystem and made important decisions and recommendations. For instance, the Site was divided into two sections, namely Laikipia and Samburu/Isiolo.
The MIKE Site Officers will work under me for the next one year mainly on recording the technical details of the MIKE report. MIKE pledged to assist each District Station with various things e.g. printers and computer upgrades in order to function smoothly. Participants at the MIKE Database training workshop held in KCCT, Nairobi from 16th to 19th June 2003 MIKE Database training workshop: The 4 day workshop was held in Kenya College of Communication and Technology Nairobi from 16th to 19th June. MIKE Site and National Officers from Tanzania, Eritrea and Kenya attended the meeting.
Each participant received a soft and hard copy of the database, which was covered thoroughly at the workshop. The programme is designed purely for protected areas; contributions from officers in Samburu-Laikipia almost rendered the effort obsolete. Laikipia Wildlife Forum Annual General Meeting: The meeting was well attended by representatives from literally all corners of and creed in Laikipia, as well as senior government officials including 2 KWS board of trustees. Angelina finished fourth position Lewa Marathon Event: It was quite delightful when the organizers of the Lewa Downs Marathon asked me to present a community team from Ngare Mara to participate in the Marathon.
On 15th May, 51 members of 8 vigilante wildlife groups registered to contest in the 28-kilometer road race between Isiolo police barrier and Archer’s post to select the team. 42 contestants, including 4 women, finished the race, with the first person clocking one hour 25 minutes. A children’s 8-kilometer road race was held simultaneously; it attracted 80 participants with 65 finishers.Elders donated one cow and four goats for the winners. The four first finishers men and one lady were selected to represent Ngare Mara at Lewa.
On the material day, the team performed exceptionally well, ranking 8th out of 27 teams contesting in the Marathon. Angelina Nasuru finished 4th in the girls category of the children’s 5 kilometer race, thus earning a gift voucher worth KSh 2,500 at Bata Shoe Company. The team made their village and STE very proud. All team members completed their races and got a gift from the event. Also, STE supported Namunyak Trust to select their team by donating one cow pledged last year.