An elephant collaring team watches as an elephant recovers from a tranquilizing dart. Fitted to a lone bull elephant, it will be supplying scientists with a detailed plan of his migration, and monitor his well-being as he travels through areas rife with poaching. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A Kenya Wildlife service vet tranquilizes a "problem elephant" from a helicopter. The elephant was one of several that had taken to breaking fences and, as a result, coming into conflict with local farmers. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Wildlife rangers prepare to relocate an elephant from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to Meru National Park. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Wildlife rangers prepare to relocate an elephant from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to Meru National Park, an area offering less possibility of conflict. Elephant discover quite quickly that their tusks do not conduct electricity, and if they curl up their trunks they can quite happily breakdown electric fences that protect farms from crop raiding elephants. If not removed, communities will often come into conflict with persistent elephant and death will almost certainly result on both sides. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Wildlife rangers prepare to relocate an elephant from the Ol Pejeta Conservancy to Meru National Park, an area offering less possibility of conflict. Elephants discover quite quickly that their tusks do not conduct electricity, and if they curl up their trunks they can quite happily breakdown electric fences that protect farms from crop raiding elephants. If not removed, communities will often come into conflict with persistent elephant and death will almost certainly result on both sides. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Samburu Moran prepares to construct a boma out of thorn bushes in which his cattle will spend the night safe from predators.
The Samburu are the country’s largest land occupiers and yet number few in a country of tens of millions. Fierce pastoralists, they saw no value in having wildlife on their lands because they believed it belonged to the government and was therefore of no benefit to them. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Samburu Moran (warriors) take a camel to slaughter at dawn. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Prior to attending Imuget le nkarna (celebration of 10 years as a warrior), Samburu moran (warriors) wash by the edge of a dam before applying red core to their bodies. The Samburu are know as the ‘butterfly people’ by other warrior tribes because of the bright colors they wear, and their flamboyant body adornments. A Samburu is a moran for 13 years, during which time he lives completely in the bush with his cattle, drinking blood from the cows, milk, and occasional water, and meat. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Samuru warriors (Moran) attending the Imuget le nkarna (the celebration of 10 years as a warrior). The Samburu are know as the "Butterfly People" by other warrior tribes because of the bright colors they wear, and their flamboyant body adornments. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A Samburu Moran drinks the blood from the neck of a freshly slaughtered cow whilst attending Imuget le nkarna (celebration of 10 years as a warrior). Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Traditionally, a Moran carries little more than a spear, a knife, and a plastic five-liter oil container, which is used as a container for water, milk, and as a pillow to keep his headdress off the ground whilst sleeping. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Samburu Moran take the meat that has been cut from slaughtered cows and hung over a central tree. It will be cooked over open fires and placed on the ground under the same tree, from where it will be eaten by the warriors. This is one of the few occasions that the Moran will get to feast on meat during their time as warriors. From this point on (10 years as warriors) they are permitted to take wives. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Traditionally, Moran don't attend school, however, in return for reports of wildlife sightings, incidents of human-wildlife conflicts, and poaching, they receive lessons and a small food stipend. As a result warriors have an increasingly important role to place as both conservationists and role models. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A sedated white rhino is dehorned by a moran (warrior) in the hope that it will reduce the probability of it being poached in the future. Once removed the horn is transported to safe custody where it will remain for the foreseeable future. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A leopard caught and killed in a poachers snare is removed by conservancy rangers. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A veterinarian treats a lioness for an eye infection, Lewa Conservancy, Northern Kenya. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
The incentive is now to protect rather than kill, and in many areas an enemy of the wildlife is now considered an enemy of the people. As a result of the increased security for both people and wildlife, the safari industry, a pillar of the Kenyan economy, is generating more than a billion dollars a year. However, with the incredible amount of money being offered to poachers, this fragile peace and security hangs in the balance. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
‘9.2’ is a mobile multi-ethnic anti poaching unit, who can respond quickly and effectively to any given situation across the northern rangelands, without fear of tribal conflict. They live in the bush for 26 days of each month, returning to base to rest and re-equip for the remaining four days of each month. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A sedated black rhino is ear notched for identification purposes, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, northern Kenya. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A conservancy ranger removes the horn from a rhino that was killed by poachers. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A black rhino is relocated from Lewa Conservancy to a neighboring conservancy as part of an ongoing program to reintroduce Black Rhino across the northern rangelands of Kenya. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
The conservancy hoped that several black rhino—born blind—would benefit from cataract surgery, and be released back in to the wild. The operation was unsuccessful. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A black rhino calf, orphaned by poachers, is hand-reared by a conservancy ranger. It is hoped that it will be re-introduced in to the wild once old enough to survive attacks from predators. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Poaching increases significantly during the full moon, which is referred to as the "Hunter's Moon." Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Elephant at dusk, Ewaso Nyiro river, Northern Kenya. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Members of KWS (Kenya wildlife services) along with members of Westgate Community Conservancy, arrive at the scene of a reported elephant poaching. The elephant has been mortally wounded and is now unable to stand. After being examined by a veterinary surgeon, it is decided that the elephant's injuries will ultimately result in a slow and painful death and leave the animal vulnerable should the poachers return. It is shot by the team. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
The body of a poacher, killed in a shoot out with conservancy rangers, lies in the open bush. It was later discovered that the poacher was responsible for the death of a rhino and its month old calf earlier that week. His body was taken to the local morgue where it will likely remain for a considerable time until family members consider him 'overdue' and begin a search of the local morgues and hospitals. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A poacher is interrogated by members of KWS. Part of a team intent on poaching—possibly the youngest and most in experienced of the group—he was found by the blood hounds. The others escaped, but he refuses to give them up, most likely out of fear. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Ranger recruits are selected from applicants across all 27 community conservancies and will form part of a multi ethnic team once training is completed. They are trained to respond quickly and effectively to any given situation, not just poaching, without fear of tribal conflict; at which time, they will also receive weapons to replace their sticks and are awarded the status of Kenya Police Reservists. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Poachers will remove the face of the elephant with sharpened axes. The ivory will be removed at a later stage in a location far from the carcass, thus allowing them to flee the scene quickly and quietly. Elephants are often shot with poisoned arrows and followed at a distance for several days until dead or incapacitated, thus avoiding the sound of gunshots which may alert rangers. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
The poachers were found in possession of a large quantity of ivory, axes, and ammunition. The ivory was taken into safe custody and the poachers imprisoned awaiting trial. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A poacher is removed from his cell and handcuffed, prior to being taken to court. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Elephant feet are used as waste paper bins, and umbrella stands. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
The body of a farmer trampled to death by a rogue elephant. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A Kenyan Wildlife service officer puts down a mortally wounded elephant that was shot, but managed to escape from poachers. The elephant's tusks were removed and taken into custody. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Members of the Conservancy's Anti Poaching unit attend the scene of a poaching. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A sedated Grevy’s zebra is fitted with a satellite transmitting collar at the Lekurruki Community Conservancy in northern Kenya. Its movement will be monitored by scientists in the US. Over recent years the decline in numbers—80% in the past three decades—has been primarily due to poaching, killing for meat, and also loss of access to critical resources due to competition with domestic livestock. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
Monitoring a lion's movements in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, northern Kenya. Its movements will be monitored by scientists in both the US, and the conservancy. Lions are in competition with livestock for resources, and cases of human wildlife conflict are common and result in the deaths of both the lions and villagers. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
A vet reaches forward to fit socks into the ears of a lightly sedated white rhino, and in doing so, casts a shadow on its body indicating the dilemma we face. There is always a chance that when we aim to help we may actually kill. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor
White rhino 'ngororika' was the last rhino to be killed by poachers. She was 39 years old at the time of death and the mother of a one year old calf. The poacher who killed her was shot and killed by rangers on the conservancy some days later whilst attempting to poach more rhino. The skeleton bares the bullet holes from the poacher's rifle, and is kept on display at a children's education center on the conservancy. Finalist, LensCulture Earth Awards 2015. © David Chancellor