GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 3350

PURSUANT to regulation 21 of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, 2003, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the above proposed project. The Aspinall Foundation (TAF) in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), proposes to translocate 13 African elephants from Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent, United Kingdom to Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary in Kwale County, Kenya for re- wilding and eventual release in Shimba Hills Ecosystem. The project involves the unique translocation of the family of elephants by air and road. The following are the anticipated impacts and proposed mitigation measures: Potential Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Risks of contracting diseases and disease epidemic • Screen the 13 elephants for diseases before translocation and regularly post translocation before release into the wild. • Implement prescribed disease monitoring, surveillance and rapid response plan. • Implement prescribed tsetse control and eradication programme. • Support vaccination programmes for livestock and rapid disease response in case of an outbreak that is likely to spread to the elephants. • Deploy vets at the release site to timely attend to the animals. • Train animal keepers on early detection of sick animals. Human wildlife conflict • Rehabilitate and rebuild the 150 kilometer fence around the Shimba Hills Mwaluganje Ecosystem. • Community sensitization and involvement in the entire project cycle. • Establish a rapid response programme utilizing ground crews and aerial support, should the elephants break out of the reserve. • Deploy and fit some members of the 13 elephants with satellite collars for effective post release tracking and monitoring. Poaching /illegal hunting • Strengthen the wildlife security the Shimba Hills ecosystem. • Increase walking and road security patrols. • Rehabilitation and maintenance of the electric fence and enhanced security surveillance along the perimeter fence. • Install sensors along the fence and a monitoring system. • Engage with communities to ensure they support anti-poaching activities and report potential security threats. • Implement citizen informant system. 1614 1614 Potential Impacts Proposed Mitigation Measures Vegetation loss during camp construction and supplementary feeding of the elephants • Restrict perimeter fence construction activities to the existing fence alignment and use maintenance corridor as a fire break. • Elephant release enclosure to be designed around existing indigenous trees and shrubs to reduce vegetation clearance. • Enrich the release boma and re-wilding enclosure through habitat modification with appropriate trees, grass and shrubs after the elephants have been released. Competition for water • Provide alternative water sources for the livestock and wildlife both inside the sanctuary and in the adjacent community. • Employing sustainable use measures including installation of monitoring meter gauges. Occupational health and safety (OHS) • Routine vaccination of staff and animals to prevent spread of zoonotic diseases as determined by National Strategies and Protocols. • Providing animal keepers with PPEs and replacing them as necessary. • Securing the release site and controlling movement in and out during translocation and post translocation. • Provide and maintain fire-fighting and first aid equipment at the operation camp. • Training of facility workers on safe use of equipment and substances. • Adherence to the OSHA safety rules and regulations. Solid waste generation • Employing waste minimization techniques such as the 3Rs (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle) principle. • Provide litter bins at the operation camp for temporary holding before disposal. • Adhere to integrated solid waste management regulations. Predation of the elephants • Continuously monitor to ensure that there no lions in the release site. • Ensure the perimeter fence is predator proof as far as possible. • Monitor the Release boma for incidences of predator intrusion. Security of release site and staff camp. • Install fence sensor systems. • Robust post release monitoring. • Contingency plan to maintain and support the elephants in the rewilding enclosure until they can fully fend for themselves in the wild. • Prepare a security management plan. • Collaborate with KWS, KFS and Conservancy scouts to enhance the security of the sanctuary. • Ensure day and night onsite security surveillance. • Ensure animal enclosures are regularly maintained to avoid escapes. • Ensure main access gates are manned at all times. The full report of the proposed project is available for inspection during working hours at: (a) Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, NHIF Building, 12th Floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 30126–00100, Nairobi. (b) Director-General, NEMA, Popo Road, off Mombasa Road, P.O. Box 67839–00200, Nairobi. (c) County Director of Environment, Kwale County. A copy of the report can be downloaded at www.nema.go.ke The National Environment Management Authority invites members of the public to submit oral or written comments within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice to the Director-General, NEMA, to assist the Authority in the decision making process regarding this project. Comments can also be emailed to dgnema@nema.go.ke MAMO B. MAMO, Director-General, MR/3231716 National Environment Management.