URGENT: Sustain a conservancy through the pandemic

HIGHLIGHTS FROM JAN-MAR 2022:

• Kisaru, a female cheetah who put Enonkishu on the map after raising 6 cubs in 2019, was absent from Enonkishu this quarter, but one of her daughter’s, Nadupoi brought her male cub to the conservancy at the end of March (Figure 1).
• Leopards seen throughout the quarter (Figure 2)
• Cattle who were permitted to emergency grazing in Enonkishu mostly vacated by mid-Feburary with the other extra cattle leaving by mid-March (Figure 3).
• Sixteen calves were weaned, eighteen were born, and four did not survive the stress of extra cattle in the conservancy of the Herds for Growth project, but one of the original has birthed 4 steers (Figure 4).
• Proceeds from the 2021 Ultra MARAthon were used to purchase a motorbike for the rangers with additional plans for a new ranger kitchen, mobile phones for wildlife monitoring, and improved wages (Figure 6).
• The Northern Mara Vaccination Campaign took place in February, covering 1080 km², with 2727 animals vaccinated over 3 days (Figure 5).
• Predator deterrent lights donated to Mbokishi CA were distributed to the community of Oiti (Figure 7).

Links:

• Enonkishu's Conservancy website

• Q1 2022 Enonkishu Conservancy Highlights (PDF)
  

• There were no reported sightings of wild dog in Enonkishu this quarter, but two were seen in Lemek toward the end of December.
• Kisaru, a female cheetah who put Enonkishu on the map after raising 6 cubs in 2019, spent a week in Enonkishu in early October (Figure 1). A daughter from her first litter gave birth to seven cubs in Lemek.
• Barikoi, a male lion who has been frequently seen in Enonkishu since 2019 seemingly reestablished his pride after an attempted takeover in November where he was injured (Figure 2), but recovered (Figure 3).
• Rainfall was slightly lower in Q3 2021 than Q2 2021, confirming the first true dry season since 2018 (Figure 4).
• The conservancy was flooded with cattle this quarter due to the “drought” in the rest of Kenya. At its peak in November, 2112 head were surviving in Enonkishu.
• Enonkishu responded to the infux of cattle by procuring a new design of mobile bomas and meeting frequently with visiting herders to ensure all abided by the grazing plan (Figure 5).
• Fifty three livestock were killed or injured by lions, the highest number of incidents since incidents have been recorded. Possible reasons include more cattle than game and additional herders who were inexperienced in the wildlife habitat.
• Cattle were offered a different mix of minerals and salt to equip them in utilizing the dry grass for energy (Figure 6).
• Mara Mbokishi Conservation Area is progressing in its formation on the eastern boundary of the conservancy.
• The 2021 Ultra MARAthon was a success (Figure 7), with MEP once again taking home the bull prize from the ranger relay category. Proceeds from the run will support participating conservancies, African Mission Services, and Mara Elephant Project.

Links:

• Conservancy Website

• Q4 2021 Enonkishu Conservancy Highlights (PDF)
  

HIGHLIGHTS FROM JUL-SEP 2021

• Two male wild dogs were seen throughout the quarter, always observed by rangers from Chali Chali camp, with a few other reports from neighboring herders.
• Kisaru, a female cheetah who put Enonkishu on the map after raising 6 cubs in 2019, gave birth to a second litter in September near the same site she had her first litter. She emerged from her den with 4 cubs, but the next day was found with only 3 (Figure 1).
• Barikoi, a male lion may have been usurped by some younger males (Figure 2). We are anxiously awaiting to see how it plays out.
• Grey crowned cranes flocked to the spring below Memusi dam in groups as large as 253 (Figure 3).
• As a result of the dry season, bomas have been moved to the designated grazing block to reduce tracking (Figure 4), Eleven calves were weaned, seventeen were born, and one young heifer was killed by a lion from the Herds for Growth project.
• KENTTEC team deployed insect repellent necklaces on the conservancy herd to reduce black and tsetse flies and further reduce the contraction of trypanosomiasis (Figure 5).
• Tracking devices were piloted to monitor the effectiveness of the grazing plan (Figure 6)
• Ranger appreciation day was held at the end of July (Figure 7).

• Wild dogs made appearances three times throughout the quarter, one group of at least four in May, and another two males seen twice in June (Figure 1).
• Kisaru, a female cheetah who put Enonkishu on the map after raising 6 cubs in 2019, spent the majority of the quarter in neighboring conservancies but made an appearance in our conservancy near the end of June (Figure 2).
• Barikoi, a male lion leading the “Enonkishu pride” continues to remain in Enonkishu and was seen mating a lioness in mid-April (Figure 3).
• Rainfall dropped throughout the quarter with only half the rainfall of Q2 2020, and Q1 2021, marking our first official dry season since 2018, and the first time the grass has dried out since then.
• Thirteen calves were weaned, thirty-three were born, 16 cull cows were sold (Figure 4), and the Herds for Growth herd lost a bull due to MCF.
• The vaccination of domestic animals from rabies was completed by Dr. Ezra Saitoti, who filled in the gaps of the targeted habitat of wild dogs and stretched the vaccination zone into Transmara (Figure 5).
• Rangers participated in a joint patrol with neighboring conservancies, Kenya Wildlife Service, and Mara Elephant Project (Figure 6).
• 72% of conservancy members have signed a 15 year lease, providing passive yet stable income to their families to set aside their land for conservation and eco-tourism (Figure 7).
• Road work was completed by the end of the quarter, with three new culverts and the forest road to Mara Safari Club now open (Figure 8).
• Four kilometers of fenceline, funded by a generaous corporate donation to reduce human-elephant conflict, were constructed along the northern boundary of the conservancy (Figure 9).
• Uniforms and torches were distributed to Enonkishu, Ol Chorro, and Lemek conservancies through a corporate CSR donation (Figure 10).

• Q2 2021 Enonkishu Conservancy Highlights (PDF)
  

HIGHLIGHTS FROM JAN-MAR 2021

• There were four sightings of the seven wild dogs throughout the quarter, with the last observation made on 20 February (Figure 1).
• Kisaru spent the majority of the quarter in neighboring conservancies but made an appearance in Enonkishu near the end of March (Figure 2).
• Lion dynamics have been complicated throughout the quarter with a sub-group of 2 lionesses and four older cubs being the primary lions seen (Figure 3).
• There were ten leopard sightings throughout the quarter, three of which were confirmed to be a female named “Enkishui” by a resident guide in October.
• Bushmeat snaring and “poaching” events have been on the rise throughout the Mara conservancies, with more tactical joint patrols and snare sweeps occurring throughout the quarter.
• Olive trees continue to be stolen from Block 13, along the Mara River. Efforts were made to distribute seedballs in an effort to reforest the area (Figure 4).
• Ten calves were weaned and thirty-four calves were born to Herds for Growth, sixteen of which were born throughout the month of February and a new Boran bull was purchased for the Herd (Figure 5).
• The fifth Northern Mara Vaccination campaign vaccinated 1444 cats, dogs, and donkeys 12-13 February, stretching across wild dog habitat to minimize transmission (Figure 6).
• A major renovation to Chali Chali ranger outpost began (Figure 7).
• The first quarterly meeting of Enonkishu’s new management company took place in January (Figure 8).
• Tsetse fly targets have only been maintained throughout the last quarter, but careful records of treatments administered are being kept to share with the KENTTEC team.
• Construction on the Fairmont road as well as three culverts in the conservancy began to make the conservancy more accessible to visitors (Figure 9).
• Monitoring of electrocutions along newly installed power lines has begun (Figure 10).

Links:

• Conservancy Website
• Enonkishu's Snapshot Safari Link
• Enonkishu's Facebook Profile

• Q1 2021 Enonkishu Conservancy Highlights (PDF)