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 August 2025. During the month the Chyulu Mobile and Jipe teams were on annual leave whilst the Chyulu, Dakadima, Kulalu II, Mobile North, Shompole, Sobo, Umbi, and Galana teams worked part of the month The rest of the teams were operating fulltime.
MONTH AT A GLANCE:
Kilometres covered on patrol:
39,009
48 Arrests made:
27,678
76 Ivory recovered kg:
1,111 Snares con scated:
ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES
AUGUST 2025
We currently operate 29 Anti-Poaching Teams with the KWS throughout Kenya. 23 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 two teams based in the Mau Forest, an important water catchment area in the Rift Valley. We have 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
AUGUST 2025
During the month, SWT/ KWS Anti-Poaching Teams lifted 1,111 snares and made 48 arrests, including the arrest of 9 offenders caught in possession of bushmeat and 4 suspected bushmeat poachers. Other arrests made during the month include 23 livestock herders, 3 rewood collectors, 1 sherman, and 7 arrests made for illegal entry into the parks Bushmeat con scated from poachers and camps included 17 kgs of meat and over 36 carcasses, including dik-diks, kudu and sh.
During the month, the teams destroyed 16 charcoal kilns and 1 charcoal camp, including the con scation of 1 charcoal sack 47 harbors/hides/camps used by offenders in the parks were also found and destroyed
In August, the teams also discovered 3 elephant carcasses and handed over 76kg of ivory to the KWS for safekeeping They also supported an orphaned elephant rescue and 2 operations to free adult elephants from mud, along with several veterinary cases.
TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED
AUGUST 2025
TOTAL ARRESTS MADE
AUGUST 2025
INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS
AUGUST 2025
BURRA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/8/2025
ELEPHANT RESCUE
The team rescued an elephant stuck in a muddy well, which had become stuck trying to access water
13/8/2025
ELEPHANT RESCUE
With the dry season, elephants have been in search for water and the team was involved in another rescue of an elephant from a muddy well
29/8/2025
ELEPHANT RESCUE
The team attended to the report of an injured juvenile elephant spotted alone in the park. The elephant was rescued and taken to the Voi stockades for care
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Voi & Tsavo East
KICHWA TEMBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
30/8/2025 ILLEGAL CAMPSITE
The team found a recently used campsite in the park but there was no other evidence of illegal activities
30 Days on duty: Tsavo West NP & where needed most Patrol areas:
KULALU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
30 Days on duty:
15/9/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team apprehended men in the park caught with fresh bushmeat and poaching tools
19/9/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a man caught with fresh bushmeat
29/9/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a man caught with bushmeat and a bicycle
Patrol areas:
Border of Southern Tsavo East within Kulalu & Galana Ranches
DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/8/2025 ONGOING PATROLS
The Dakadima team continued with daily patrols and did not discover any illegal activities this month
30 Days on duty: Galana Ranch and where needed most Patrol areas:
MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
23/8/2025 ILLEGAL CAMP
The team found a recently used campsite by poachers in the park
26/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found a small snares set by bushmeat poachers
31/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a selection of snares set by poachers
18 Days on duty: Fully Mobile in Northern Tsavo Conservation Area Patrol areas:
MOBILE SOUTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/8/2025
ELEPHANT RESCUE
The Mobile South team helped rescue a baby elephant with a snares wound the calf was taken by SWT helicopter to the stockades for care
6/8/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a bushmeat poacher with fresh meat and poaching tools
31/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found wire snares set by poachers in the park
Days on duty: Fully Mobile in Southern Tsavo Conservation Area Patrol areas:
YATTA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The Yatta team lifted snares from the park
18/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found more snares set by poachers
27/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The Yatta team lifted yet more snares from the park
30 Days on duty: Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East Patrol areas:
ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 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
2/8/2025 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found a fresh elephant carcass and removed the tusks to handover to KWS for safekeeping
7/8/2025 CHARCOAL KILN
The team found a charcoal kiln and destroyed
24/8/2025 CHARCOAL KILN
The team found another kiln and destroyed it
THABANGUNJI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/8/2025
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park
8/8/2025
WOOD CARVING
The team found a wood carving camp and destroyed it
13/8/2025
LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted herds of camels from the park - the herders escaped
MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
18/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The Mukururo team found snares in the conservation area set by bushmeat poachers
19/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found more large wire snares
Days on duty: Chyulu Hills Patrol areas:
28/8/2025 WILD FIRE
The team fought a wild re in the park
KENZE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/8/2025 WILD FIRE
The Kenze team helped ght a re in the park
12/8/2025
LIFTING SNARES
The Kenze team lifted a number of large wire snares from the park
27/8/2025
LIFTING SNARES
More small snares were removed from the park
Days on duty: Kibwezi Forest Patrol areas:
SHOMPOLE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
23/8/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a poacher caught with a large consignment of bushmeat
Days on duty: Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo Patrol areas:
CHYULU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 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: Chyulu Hills Patrol areas:
22/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park set by poachers
26/8/2025 CAMPSITE
The team found a camp in the park and destroyed it ensuring no wild re could spread
30/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park
KULALU II ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
24/8/2025 POACHING
The team arrested a poacher caught with bushmeat and a bow and arrows
27/8/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team con scated bicycles and a consignment of bushmeat - the bushmeat poachers escaped
30/8/2025 LIFTING SNARS
The team lifted small snares from the conservation area
Days on duty: Greater Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
ITHUMBA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
14/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed snares from the park
17/8/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHERS
The team con scated fresh bushmeat from a camp and arrested 2 bushmeat poachers
27/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team removed snares from the park
Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KAJIADO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/8/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park
4/8/2025 ELEPHANT RESCUE
The team helped recue an adult elephant stuck in mud
24/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed large wire snares from the park
30 Days on duty: Kajiado & Arabuko Sokoke Patrol areas:
MERU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
8/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of large snares from the park
11/8/2025 FIREFIGHTING
The team fought a wild re for several days in the park
28/8/2025 FIREFIGHTING
The team attended to the damage of the res
Days on duty: Meru National Park Patrol areas:
TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
14/8/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team apprehended a consignment of bushmeat - the poacher/s escaped
17/8/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 2 bushmeat poachers caught with a consignment of dried meat
19/8/2025 BROKEN IVORY
The team found pieces of broken elephant tusk and handed them over to KWS
Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
14/8/2025 IVORY POACHER
The team arrested a poacher caught with a bow and arrows
19/8/2025 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team discovered an elephant carcass and handed the tusks over to KWS
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Galana Conservation Area
KWALE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/8/2025 LOGGING
The team cautioned a group of community members caught logging in the park
7/8/2025 ELEPHANT RESCUE
The team helped rescue an adult elephant that was stuck in a muddy wallow
27/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snares from the park
Days on duty: Shimba Hills National Reserve Patrol areas:
SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
28/8/2025 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The discovered an old elephant carcass and handed the ivory over to KWS
31/8/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln in the park
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Central Tsavo East
18
UMBI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
24/8/2025
LIFTING SNARES
The team found small and medium snares set by poachers in the park
30/8/2025
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares
31/8/2025
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers
Patrol areas:
18 Days on duty: Ithumba, Umbi, Mukomwe & South Kitui
MTITO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
10/8/2025 LIVESTOCK INTRUSIOON
The team managed a livestock situation in the park
18/8/2025 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted livestock from the park
29/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park
Days on duty: Tsavo East National Park Patrol areas:
TSAVO MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
30 Days on duty:
7/8/2025 ELEPHANT RESCUE
The Tsavo Mobile helped rescue an adult elephant stuck in mud
11/8/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers
14/8/2025 POACHING
The team arrested a poacher caught with a bow and arrows in the park
Mobile in Tsavo East National Park and where needed most Patrol areas:
GALANA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
AUGUST 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
20/8/2025
DAILY PATROLS
The Galana Wildlife Conservancy team worked part of the month and didn't discover any illegal activities
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
