SCOUT'S UPDATE
Date: 17 March 2009 
By: Scout's Manager

NRT has faced many challenges and successes over the past 6 months.  As many of you may be aware there has been a government security operation ongoing in Samburu district, this has been a difficult time for NRT and the conservancies but things are calming down and conservancies operations are gradually getting back to normal. This is important as over the past 6 months there has been an increased poaching threat to elephants in northern Kenya much of which is being picked up by the conservancy scouts in remote areas of the Mathew's ranges, to the east of Sera and Melako conservancies and in areas neighbouring Il Ngwesi and Lekurruki conservancies.

The network of conservancy scouts is crucial for monitoring elephant mortality in this region and their ability to effectively patrol throughout their conservancies is vital for elephant security. An example was a group of 6 elephants poached to the east of Melako conservancy in November last year whose carcasses were found by conservancy scouts - this has led to a series of anti-poaching operations conducted by KWS in this area since these were found.

Several weeks ago Melako scouts, together with KWS and Lewa security personnel managed to recover 43kg of ivory and arrested 3 people involved. NRT and the conservancies are continuing to monitor elephant mortality and ivory movements in the area........will keep you all posted of any new developments.