Introduction:
This exercise followed the one done early March and mid May this year by both STE, Lewa Henrik and NRT. The initial target was not attained in terms of how many collars we will deploy, and since this is the first time also to tag cattle few problems were experience on the process. We ended getting back some collars and from the field, either too loose or had some little defect that had to be attended.
The plan was to join up with NRT, Juliet King and deploy this collars beginning of July however that didn’t happened since the collars were not there. Finally the collars arrived and without further delay it was decided that they should deployed the six collars right away.
The targeted area were West gate area and Kalama, however the challenge there was due to the drought situation most of the cattle in Samburu District were in Sera about 120km northeast from their normal bomas. and it was real challenge to go and look for the right one’s.
On July 22, my team and I left early toward West gate area to try and deploy at least two collars in the immediate area. Since this was a continuation of the remaining collar’s and people were sensitized and Juliet has also given me the numbers of all the people to be contacted, I was lucky to have found one of the scouts cattle’s were coming to drink that day, and without wasting time we decided that we will put the collars in that herd.
By mid-day the cattle come down to a small seasonal river bed- and I was there at the moment, the main question was to explain to people the reason why we are tagging the cattle? Also since its dry season cattle were skinny the other concerns was how heavy is the collars! And everyone would lift it first? After all the explanation and the herdsmen getting contented on the weight of the collar we went straight to tag the animal.
The first collar was deployed at Lempaute (near Loijuk swamp) where there is high concentration of Gravy zebra’s. Through this exercise we are expecting a lot of interaction between cattle, gravy’s, and even the elephants.
As I was there tagging, a report come from one of the scouts, that a collared elephant has been sighted in that area morning! Anyway its matter of wait and see, the interactions between this different species since it sound quite interesting.
After gathering all the information where possibly other Temporary cattle bomas would be found. I went back to Ngutu o’ngiron and picked a community scout by the name Lokorukoru together with Lenangetai and went looking for the owner of the cattle that need to be collared.
The first Mzee we found and approached on the idea didn’t want his cattle to be tagged! He wasn’t opend why he was against, but he said no. Anyway we continued to the second village found the other elder and he was ok with idea, except we had to wait for the cattle until evening when they are coming to the Boma.
We didn’t have choice except waiting until past seven o’clock in the evening. Finally the cattle come in by dark we still managed to tag them. There are more people in the village by now the village is lively compared to daytime, and more people got interested and asked a lot of questions.
Second Day
July 23, we headed to Kalama community conservancy which lies 10kms north East of Samburu N.R. on our way we stop to brief the area councilors Raphael Lekiluai at Arch post centre, to brief him what our mission is, after that we proceed to with to Kalama offices and met with the manager to brief him also other we spoke over the phone extensively over the matter. After all that consultation we picked one of their scouts left to start the for the cattle.
The scouts who accompanied us, led the team straight to one of the boma’s picked a elder and then went looking for the cattle. After a hour of looking the cattle tracks, fresh dung or stop and listen the cows bell we found them.
The right animal was identified and off we went to perform our duty of tagging. After few minutes we were through with exercise, and we were coming back to locate the next boma to deploy the second collar. From our past experience deploying the second collars seemed always to be difficult in-terms of locating the cattle since its already mid day and the cattle have gone far into the bushes or up on the hills.
The first tusks is always to identify who’s cattle are we putting the collar? Then from there it’s easier to start asking other herds if there have seen them in the bushes, and then look for any-signs.
We come back to Kalama H/quarters, climbed are small hill next to there offices and tried to see if we can get a hold of the scouts who are in observation hills and if they can see any cattle within there vicinity? The answer was yes! We moved straight following the direction from the scouts. In unless than three quarters of an hour we got there and we found the ones we were looking for.
The herder was informed what our mission was, and he sounded ok, he even took the role of wrestling with cow and finally we got the collar on. That was inside Kalama conservancy, the usual question’s come up, as to why do we put the collars? I tried to explain to the herder together with other scouts. Finally headed back to our camp to prepare for long trip of going to Sera, which is about 100kms North East of Samburu.
Third Day
The following morning we, we had to leave quite early, half past five in the morning since we had a bit of cross country to do. We picked a armed guard from Kalama H/quarters and headed for Sera.
We arrived just the right time ten o’clock, when thousands of herds of cattle were coming down to drink in the Sera luggah. I must admit that its long time since I sow such high number of livestock in one area. As we were coming close to the water point, huge storm of dust and the loud noise of singing wells greeted us.
As we arrived, huge crown surrounded our Cars, and tried to inquire why we were there? It’s not common to see car up there, especially if its not are community car. But because we had community scouts it was ok , we informed them our mission and we started looking for the right cattle that we wanted to tag. The targets we are cattle from Sere-o-lipi and Learata area.
Among the thousand a herds of cattle’s, we found the ones from Learata. We spoke with the owner and he was fine with idea, the young man went around his cattle and chooses young middle age bull, approached very carefully and wrestle with him until got hold of him and we tagged him.
After deploying the first collar, then we had to wait for the Sere-o-lipi cattle’s to come down for drink, at about three o’clock we were got a report that there are not coming to drink until tomorrow. We decided we would try on foot but we didn’t go far that whole area was full of cattle and also for security issue we decided we would wait until tomorrow.
We spent in Kauroo camp, with community scouts. The following morning we left for Sera singing well, which is about 20km away from where spent our cold night. It was good timing we arrived at the same time the thirsty cattle were coming down to drink.
Still we couldn’t believe our eyes, on the number that come down to drink that day. Anyway we chatted with guys and identified on the herd that we will put the collar.
After we agreed which herd we putting the collar, I went back to the car brought the collar and deployed it. That was the only satellite collar out of the six collars that I deployed.
That marked the end of my long week exercise, which involved a lot of driving, patience and a lot of negotiation
Appendix 1
Collar information:
1st
Collar
Date: 22 -07-08 GPS: N 0: 76703
E 037:30339
Area: Lempaute
Collar Freq: 148.080
Collar I.D: 021
Owner’s cattle: Stephen Lenantoye:
2nd collar:
Date: 22-07-08 N 0: 68494
E 037: 35957
Area: Pukur
Collar Freq: 148.104
Collar I.D: 023
Owner cattle: Lesachore
3rd collar:
Date 23-07-08
Area: Kirich (below Sepache)
Collar Freq: 148.123 N 0:83606
E 037: 57728
Collar I.D: 09
Cattle owner: Leadekei
4thcollar:
Date 23-07-08
Area: Laresoro N 0:69792
E 037: 59318
Collar Freq: 148.404
Collar I.D: 025
Cattle owner: Letimorit (Chairman kalama)
5th collar:
Date: 24-07-08
Area: Sera luggah N 01:02385
037: 87423
Collar Freq: 148.035
Collar I.D: 014
Cattle owner: Lecharkwet
6th collar:
Date 25-07-08 N 01:02385 (same luggah)
037: 87423
Area: Sera Luggah
Collar Freq: N/A (To confirm with Henrik not visible)
Collar I.D: PFK 3D FC (Sat collar)
Cattle owner: Lesamaja (from Sere-o-lipi)