Operated in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Anti-Poaching Teams monitor for illegal activity and support all manner of eld operations
This report details all Anti-Poaching Unit activities for April 2025. During the month the Bura, Kulalu and Kichwa Tembo teams were on annual leave whilst the Yatta, Kapangani, Kenze, Kwale, Mukururo, Tiva and Tsavo Mobile worked part of the month The rest of the teams were operating fulltime.
MONTH
AT A GLANCE:
Kilometres covered on patrol:
38,014
29 Arrests made:
27,678
22 Charcoal kilns destroyed:
1,086 Snares con scated:
ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES
APRIL
2025
We currently operate 28 Anti-Poaching Teams with the KWS throughout Kenya. 22 teams are based in the greater Tsavo Conservation Area, collectively securing Kenya’s largest national park and the surrounding wilderness One team is based in Meru National Park, which provides sanctuary to critically endangered black and white rhinos. Under the direction of Mara Elephant Project, we also fund 2 teams based in the Mau Forest, an important water catchment area in the Rift Valley. We have also expanded our anti-poaching presence to the Arabuko Sokoke Forest and the Shimba Hills, which are two of the last remaining coastal strongholds for elephants
While each team works within a designated region, many also work on a rotating, mobile basis, providing continuous coverage when other teams are on leave This helps to ensure a constant level of vigilance in Kenya’s most vulnerable ecosystems.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES LOG
APRIL 2025
During the month the KWS/SWT De-Snaring Units lifted 1,086 snares and made 29 arrests including 3 arrests for poaching activities and 3 arrests for possession of bushmeat. Other arrests made during the month included 13 charcoal burners, 6 livestock herders, 2 loggers, 1 miraa harvester, and 1 arrest made for illegal entry into the parks Bushmeat con scated from poachers and camps totaled 100kg
During the month, the teams destroyed 22 charcoal kilns, 3 charcoal camps, including 10 charcoal sacks, along with 21 harbors/hides/camps used by offenders in the parks and 4 livestock bomas
In April the teams also discovered 2 elephant carcasses and handed over 46kg of ivory to the KWS.
TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED
APRIL 2025
ARRESTS MADE
APRIL 2025
INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS
APRIL 2025
DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/4/2025 LIVESTOCK
INTRUSION
The team found livestock grazing inside the park and evicted the herd
13/4/2025 LOGGING
The team found a large logging site for charcoal burning in the park
22/4/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team ambushed a homestead on the boundary of the park, where they found illegal bushmeat
30 Days on duty: Galana Ranch and where needed most Patrol areas:
MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small wire snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
11/4/2025 LOGGING SITE
The team found a small site where logging had taken place
29/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
Snares were lifted from the park set by poachers to trap small wild animals
MOBILE SOUTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The Mobile South team removed wire snares from the area
10/4/2025 BROKEN ELEPHANT TUSK
The team found a small piece of elephant ivory, presumed to have broken naturally during a territorial ght The ivory was handed over to KWS for safekeeping
26/4/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found a charcoal kiln in the park and destroyed it
LAKE JIPE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
11/4/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team found a large snare set over a wildlife hole in the park and removed it
19/4/2025 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted a herd of livestock found grazing in the park
24/4/2025 ELEPHANT TRACKING COLLAR
The team found a broken old elephant tracking collar and contacted the KWS to return it
Days on duty: Lake Jipe & where needed most Patrol areas:
YATTA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
21/4/2025 ONGOING PATROLS
The Yatta team was working part-time this month and found no illegal activities during their patrols
Days on duty: Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East Patrol areas:
18
CHYULU MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/4/2025 CANNABIS PLANTATION
The team found and destroyed a cannabis plantation in the park
22/4/2025 MIRAA HARVESTING
The team arrested a man found harvesting miraa in the park
24/4/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park
30 Days on duty: Chyulu Hills National Park & Kiboko Ranch Patrol areas:
ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Tsavo West
3/4/2025 BUSHMEAT CAMP
The team found a bushmeat camp in the park with fresh bushmeat The poachers sadly escaped
7/4/2025 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found a fresh elephant carcass and removed its tusks to handover to KWS
24/4/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team destroyed a charcoal kiln
THABANGUNJI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/4/2025
LIFTING SNARES
The team found large snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park and removed them
5/4/2025
LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted livestock found grazing in the park
9/4/2025
TROPHY POACHER
The team arrested a poacher with a predator scull
MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
20/4/2025
LIFTING SNARES
The Mukururo team found and removed wire snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park The team was working parttime this month and no other illegal activities were recorded
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Chyulu Hills
18
KENZE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/4/2025 ONGOING PATROLS
The Kenze team continued with daily patrols and did not report any illegal activities during the month
Days on duty: Kibwezi Forest Patrol areas:
SHOMPOLE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
8/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a large number of snares set by poachers in the conservation area
10/4/2025 WATERBUCK TREATMENT
The team supported the vet unit in treating a snared waterbuck
20/4/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team found evidence of bushmeat poaching in a homestead on the border of the conservation area
Days on duty: Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo Patrol areas:
CHYULU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
12/4/2025 CANNABIS PLANTATION
The team found and destroyed a cannabis plantation in the park
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Chyulu Hills
14/4/2025 MIRAA HARVESTING
The team found harvested miraa bags hidden by harvesters
20/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers
KULALU II ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
14/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted makeshift snares from the park
21/4/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHER
The team arrested a bushmeat poacher on a motorbike with a large consignment of bushmeat
22/4/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team con scated poaching equipment and camping supplies
Days on duty: Greater Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
ITHUMBA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed medium and small snares from the park
6/4/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team arrested 2 loggers in the park with freshly logged posts
27/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found large snares in the park
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East
KAJIADO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/4/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park
13/4/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln
25/4/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site and con scated bundles of poles
30 Days on duty: Kajiado & Arabuko Sokoke Patrol areas:
MERU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of large snares from the park
4/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares set by bushmeat poachers
12/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares set by bushmeat poachers
Days on duty: Meru National Park Patrol areas:
TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
Days on duty:
18
21/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team worked part month and only found small snares during patrol days
27/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found small snares
30/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found several small snares in the park
Patrol areas:
Northern Area of Tsavo East
KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
4/4/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team worked part month during April and found bushmeat in a homestead on the border of the protected areas
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Galana Conservation Area
KWALE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
28/4/2025 HUMAN ELEPHANT CONFLICT
The team helped to push elephants away from the fenceline protecting the park and communities
Days on duty:
18
Patrol areas:
Shimba Hills National Reserve
SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/4/2025 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found a fresh elephant carcass and removed its tusks to handover to KWS for safekeeping
6/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found small snares set by bushmeat poachers
17/4/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park and destroyed it
Days on duty: Central Tsavo East Patrol areas:
UMBI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/4/2025
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snares from the park
6/4/2025
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team arrested 2 men logging wood
27/4/2025
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more small snares
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Ithumba, Umbi, Mukomwe & South Kitui
MTITO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
11/4/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found a charcoal kiln and arrested a gang of charcoal burners
12/4/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team destroyed another charcoal kiln and arrested 1 charcoal burner
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Tsavo East National Park
TSAVO MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
23/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The Tsavo Mobile team lifted small snares from the park
25/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares from the park
27/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers
18 Days on duty: Mobile in Tsavo East National Park and where needed most Patrol areas:
GALANA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
9/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The Galana Wildlife Conservancy team lifted snares from the conservation area
9/4/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHER
The team arrested a bushmeat poacher setting makeshift snares
9/4/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares from the park
SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams, as with all Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's conservation projects, is a donor-funded initiative Thank you to our global supporters, who help us secure Kenya's habitats for the future and make an impact in the eld, each and every day
