Hi All,

We have not posted for a while as all at MPT are busy preparing for the bi-monthly Predator Compensation Fund payouts on Mbirikani and Olgulului Group Ranches that are coming up at the beginning of November. The goal of PCF is to better balance the costs and benefits of living with wildlife and thereby replace conflict and retaliation with tolerance. More information will follow on this project soon but for now we are working out the payouts due to the 600 or more Maasai who have lost livestock to predators in the last two months.

But for now here is a quick blog to show you this picture caught on one of our cameratraps. This one was placed on an elephant carcass near our main base at Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge. This elephant came into our area from the south with a bullet wound in its side. We called in the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust mobile vet unit who darted and treated him. But sadly it was too late and he died during recovery. Poaching through firearms isn’t very common on Mbirikani but is prevalent near the Tanzanian border where a team of our MCGS are currently operating.

This was a sad event for us all but it was funny to see how much the hyenas enjoyed rolling in the remains as it decomposed. We assume this is to cover their smell when hunting but with an odour this terrible and the look of enjoyment on the hyenas face it seems more like these interesting creatures just love to get dirty!

Asante,

The MPT Team