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This study investigated the spatial-temporal patterns of elephant poaching in Tsavo East National Park to establish and map the density of poached elephants as well as model elephant poaching hotspots. Data on poached elephants for the period between 10 October 1989 and 2 July 2005 was acquired from the Kenya Wildlife Service elephant mortality database at the headquarters. The results indicate a higher concentration of overall poaching mainly in the central and northern parts of the park. Both dry and wet season elephant poaching ellipses indicate that seasonal elephant poaching exhibited similar spatial orientation and their centers of distribution lay approximately in the central part of the park. Kernel density analysis depicted dry season poaching hotspots on the Tiva and Galana rivers in the northwest and central-western parts of the park. Sites with moderate dry season elephant poaching included the southeastern tip of the park on Voi River and the central-eastern part. There were two main wet season poaching hotspots occurring along the lower part of Galana River across the park. Moderate wet season poaching sites were spread along Tiva River to the north of the park through the central parts of the park, to the southeastern tip on Voi River. The risk to elephant poaching map for wet season indicated areas at highest risk as occurring mainly in the central-east, south of Sala gate toward the southeastern edge of park, and in the northeastern parts of the park. The area of highest risk to elephant poaching during the dry season occurred along the Tiva River, central parts of the Galana and Voi rivers. Elephant risk to poaching during the dry season indicated areas of highest risk as concentrated along the main rivers, where water is available throughout the year. An overall risk to poaching map indicated areas with the highest risk to elephant poaching occurred in the central part of the Tiva River and the central-eastern parts of the Galana River. In order to provide adequate security of elephants throughout the year, there is need to re-deploy wildlife policing resources (equipment and personnel) to high risk areas as well as have temporally security mobile units in the open plains during the wet season. There is also need to open more security patrol roads on the eastern side of Sangayaya and Ithumba areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to deploy satellite-linked GPS collars to ten elephants at different locations at Tsavo East and West National Parks. However, nine elephants (3 males and 1 female in Tsavo East and 3 males and 2 females in Tsavo West) were deployed with the collars as one collar malfunctioned. The movement patterns of the collared elephants will be monitored for the next 20 months. This operation was carried out by International Fund for Animal Welfare staff and Kenya Wildlife Service scientists, wardens', veterinary doctor, and capture rangers. The preliminary preparations involved having planning meetings to identify the personnel, collaring operation sites, equipments, and materials to be used during the operation. A final planning meeting was held at Voi Wildlife Lodge on 28 February 2012. The meeting was to ensure that all personnel, materials, and equipment were available. During this meeting, teams to be involved in the operation were constituted, a brief on the collaring operation process was provided, safety/security issues were discussed, and operations starting time was agreed upon. During the operation, daily debriefing meetings were held to review the day's activities and address issues that might have arisen. Each morning, the operation started at around 5.30a.m with the ground team departing to designated site. The light aircraft and helicopter followed at 6:00a.m and 6:15a.m respectively. The operation involved three teams (i.e., the search, darting, and ground teams). The ground team was the first to depart to the potential areas. They stayed within that general potential area awaiting directions from the search team. The search team was then next to fly early in the morning with a light aircraft to the potential site. The team searched for potential groups group at agreed localities (Sangayaya, Ithumba, Ndia Ndaasa, and Emusaya in TENP; and Maktau, Kasigau, Jipe Njukini and Kamboyo in TWNP). Upon spotting a potential group of elephants at agreed site, the search team called in the darting team. The search team then led the darting team to the group. The darting team aged and sexed an identified elephant for darting from the group. Then upon agreeing on the individual, the veterinary doctor darted the animal. Darting was done from a helicopter using a Dan inject gun. The immobilizer and revival drugs used were etorphine hydrochloride and diprenorphine at the dosage of 16-18mg and 60mg respectively. The ground team was called in and directed to the immobilized elephant by the search team. By the end of the operation, satellite-linked GPS collars were deployed to 6 male elephants (3 each in both Tsavos) and three female elephant (one at TENP and two at TWNP). The age of the collared elephants ranged from 17-40 years. The collared elephants will be monitoring for the next 20 months. The information generated will be used to understand the movement ecology and space use of elephants in Tsavo East and West National Parks as well as map their migratory corridors and dispersal area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transylvanian Review of Systematical & Ecological Research is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)