A BRIEF ON BONGO SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES FOR 2006

Having established the areas on the Aberdares habituated by the Bongo over the past two years, more time was spent this year in a search for this rare and beautiful animal in the other mountain forests of Kenya. Sorties were undertaken in the southern forests of Mt Kenya, the Mau and Eburu.
On the Mau a small group of some 6 animals were located and although the animals themselves were not seen, fresh dung was collected to go together with samples from the other mountains for DNA testing. Local Ndorobo hunters and honey gatherers, who we hope will continue to give us information on the real threat of timber extractors and of those in the bush meat trade, assisted the team. At that time there was little evidence of either activities in this particular area, so we hope for the time being there is not too much threat to the Bongo there. It is however planned to spend more time in the area during 2007.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Eburu. This area is now completely cut off from the Mau forest, is surrounded by ever increasing settlement and the extraction of timber and wildlife is on a grand scale. Here again a small herd of Bongo was located and samples taken. Although a fringe of forest remains on the outside, inside are just heaps of charcoal kilns, snares and game pits. The charcoal and game meat is taken out overnight by donkeys, together with the only source of water for the whole area. This water is collected from condensing steam jets from which the water is siphoned out through hollowed bamboo to collecting points. Thus it is a very difficult area to control. However photographs with GPS points were taken of charcoal, game meat, and poachers, and handed over to KWS for further action. We have since heard that 2 Bongo have been killed and the authorities take little action. Until such time as Government are prepared to make a sanctuary of the crater and remaining forest, it is our suggestion that this small group of Bongo should be moved to the Aberdares. Specific funds need to be had for such an operation, and the making of a sanctuary would also require substantial funds in fencing, piping stored water for the people away from the area, and the policing by a permanent ranger team.
Several sorties have been carried out on Mt Kenya, and again a small herd of Bongo have been located. This area is still pretty vast, but the poaching and timber extraction together with much cultivation of ‘Bhangi’ is rampant. Again photographs with GPS co-ordinates have been taken, and all details passed to KWS for further action. It was hoped that by probing deeper into the forest and further out of range of settlements, that more Bongo would be found. With valued support from Halvor Astrup and the use of his helicopter, food drops were made to achieve this with our team spending up to 3 weeks away. But regrettably the deeper the team explored, the more signs of the above activities were found with people actually more or less living in the forest for long periods, being out of reach of day patrols. Again photographs and GPS coordinates have been supplied to KWS.
Back to the Aberdares we have kept up the surveillance with the use of ‘trap cameras’ kindly donated by the ‘Rare Species Conservatory Foundation,’ and the total collection of some 200 dung samples from all mentioned localities, which will now be worked upon at Cardiff University by the top world expert Michael Bruford. The cameras too have given us some excellent references by Bongo photographs from several localities in the Aberdares which can now be viewed on the web. We have now set up permanent informers in the Northern Aberdares and intend to extend this system to all areas in 2007. It is also our intention to identify appropriate schools and form wildlife clubs to give the young an awareness of the Bongo and its environment.

Finally, the awareness of all these activities appear to be having an effect. KWS have appointed a ‘Mountain Director’ who in turn has split up the Aberdares giving a warden to each with new vehicles and more men. The Director is a man with whom we have good dialogue and can participate in planning the way forward. Rather than vehicles we would like to see more equipment for longer and overnight patrols! This can be worked for the Parks, but should be extended to the forest areas and mountains as well?!

Support and financing in any form and amounts is welcomed through any of the listed ‘Charitable Trusts’

M.G.Prettejohn. Manager Bongo Surveillance Programme