S H E L D R I C K
W I L D L I F E
ANTI-POACHING
T R U S T
TEAMS
OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
J ULY 2026
Monthly Overview 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 field operations. This report details all Anti-Poaching Unit activities for July 2026, covering teams on duty.
MONTH AT A GLANCE: Kilometres covered on patrol:
34,633
27,678
Arrests made:
41
Bushmeat siezed kg:
Snares confiscated:
582
1,563 1
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES J U LY 2 0 2 6
We operate a network of 28 Anti-Poaching Teams in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), alongside our specialist Canine Unit and Drone Units. The majority of our teams are based in the greater Tsavo Conservation Area, collectively securing Kenya's largest national park and the surrounding wilderness. Our work extends to Meru National Park, which provides sanctuary to critically endangered black and white rhinos. We have expanded our anti-poaching presence to the Arabuko Sokoke Forest and the Shimba Hills — two of the last remaining coastal strongholds for elephants — as well as the Nakuru-Naivasha region, an important corridor in the Rift Valley. Beyond our directly operated teams, we fund partner-operated units across a wider network of key ecosystems: the Mau Forest, Mount Kenya, the Mara ecosystem, Nasaru Olosho Conservancy, and Amu Ranch. Together, these units protect threatened wildlife and habitats across Kenya. 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.
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S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES LOG J U LY 2 0 2 6
In July, SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams lifted 1,563 snares and made 41 arrests and cautions; 19 for bushmeat poaching, 15 for firewood collection, 3 for illegal entry into a protected area, 2 for illegal miraa plantations, 1 for illegal logging, and 1 for possession of bushmeat. Teams continued to encounter a broad range of illegal activities, including bushmeat poaching, logging, charcoal production, livestock incursions, firewood and honey harvesting. These figures highlight the continuing pressure on protected areas from poaching and illegal resource use. During the reporting period, the teams also seized 582kg of bushmeat, destroyed 5 charcoal camps and 37 charcoal kilns, and dismantled 2 illegal livestock bomas. They also seized 18kg of honey, recorded 278 illegally logged trees, and destroyed 26 illegal hides, harbours and camps. In July, the teams also recovered ivory from an elephant carcass for handover to KWS for safekeeping. They continued to support wider conservation operations, including human-wildlife conflict response, veterinary interventions and wildlife rescues.
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S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
SNARES COLLECTED J U LY 2 0 2 6
ARRESTS MADE J U LY 2 0 2 6
4
INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS JULY 2026
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S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
BURRA ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 2/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team patrolled for 18 days and found and removed snares laid by bushmeat poachers from the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Voi & Tsavo East 6
7
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
KICHWA TEMBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 26/7/2026 ELEPHANT CARCASS The team found an old elephant carcass with tusks and handed them over to KWS for safekeeping
28/7/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING The team found a charcoal burning site in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Tsavo West NP & where needed most 8
9
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
KULALU ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 3/7/2026
SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM
The team supported the SWT Community Outreach Team in a school visit with supplies
11/7/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team found and destroyed makeshift traps and removed snares
12/7/2026
ILLEGAL CAMP
The team found and destroyed a camp set up within the protected area
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Border of Southern Tsavo East within Kulalu & Galana Ranches 10
11
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 2/7/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team found a rope-pit snare set by poachers in the park and removed it
16/7/2026 ILLEGAL CAMP The team found logging and charcoal camps in the park and destroyed them
28/7/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING The team found and destroyed active charcoal kilns
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Galana Ranch and where needed most 12
13
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
12/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed snares set by poachers in the park
28/7/2026 SNARE TRAPS The team removed more snares and makeshift traps from the park
30/7/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHERS The team arrested 2 men caught laying wire snares in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Fully Mobile in Northern Tsavo Conservation Area 14
15
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
MOBILE SOUTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 2/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The Mobile South team found and destroyed a snare trap in the park
3/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed many more wire snares from the protected area
7/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed more wire snares set by bushmeat poachers
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Fully Mobile in Southern Tsavo Conservation Area 16
17
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
LAKE JIPE ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 3/7/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION The team evicted livestock and herders from the protected area
12/7/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team found and removed large cable snares from the park
17/7/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team found more wire snares set by poachers in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Lake Jipe & where needed most 18
19
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
CHYULU MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 5/7/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team lifted a large number of wire snares set by poachers in the park
13/7/2026
ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team discovered a fresh elephant carcass and removed the tusks to handover to KWS
16/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares set by poachers in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Chyulu Hills National Park & KARI Ranch 20
21
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 2/7/2026 FIREFIGHTING The team fought a wildfire in the park
20/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team coordinated an ambush and discovered zebra meat in a homestead
22/7/2026
ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team worked with the SWT/KWS Vet Unit to treat an injured elephant
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Tsavo West 22
23
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
THABANGUNJI ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 4/7/2026
FIREFIGHTING
The team fought a bushfire in the park
12/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed snares from the protected areas
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Kibwezi Forest & Chyulu Hills 24
25
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 3/7/2026
FIREFIGHTING
The Mukururo team helped fight a bushfire in the park
23/7/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found at logging site in the park
30/7/2026
ILLEGAL CAMP
The Mukururo team found a camping site in the park likely for those conducting illegal activities
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Chyulu Hills 26
27
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
KENZE ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 25/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
8/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 2 bushmeat poachers caught with fresh bushmeat in their homestead
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Kibwezi Forest 28
29
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
SHOMPOLE ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 2/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted large snares from the park
5/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a poacher with spears butchering an eland
18/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 2 bushmeat poachers caught with fresh bushmeat in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo 30
31
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
CHYULU ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 10/7/2026 MIRAA HARVESTING The team arrested 2 men harvesting miraa in the park
14/7/2026 BROKEN FENCE The team found a section of broken fence and called in the maintenance team to fix it
17/7/2026 MIRAA HARVESTING The team arrested another miraa harvester found in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Chyulu Hills 32
33
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
KULALU II ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 10/7/2026 ILLEGAL LOGGING The team found a logging site in the park
17/7/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING The team found a recently poached giraffe carcass in the park
26/7/2026 ELEPHANT CARCASS The team found an elephant carcass and removed the tusks to handover to KWS
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Greater Galana Conservation Area 34
35
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
ITHUMBA ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 3/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a bushmeat poacher with fresh dikdik bushmeat in the park
18/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted wire snares set by poachers
30/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 2 poachers caught in the park setting snares
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Northern Area of Tsavo East 36
37
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
KAJIADO ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed makeshift traps from wildlife paths in the park
8/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed small wire snares set by bushmeat poachers
8/7/2026
WOODCARVING
The team found a woodcarving site in the park and destroyed it
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Kajiado & Arabuko Sokoke 38
39
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
MERU ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
4/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted large snares from the park
17/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 2 poachers caught setting snares
31/7/2026
ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found an elephant carcass in the park.
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Meru National Park 40
41
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
28/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed traps and snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
30/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 2 poachers caught setting snares in the park
31/7/2026
HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT
The team supported the Aerial Unit in pushing elephants out of community areas and back into the safety of the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Northern Area of Tsavo East 42
43
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 4/7/2026 CATTLE INTRUSION The team evicted cattle found grazing in the park
6/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team confiscated 2 motorbikes loaded with a large consignment of bushmeat
13/7/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING The team apprehended 1 poacher and 3 motorbikes loaded with bushmeat
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Galana Conservation Area 44
45
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 15/7/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team found and removed large wire snares from the park
15/7/2026 ELEPHANT CARCASS The team found an elephant carcass and handed the tusks over to KWS for safekeeping
29/7/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team removed more snares set by bushmeat poachers
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Central Tsavo East 46
47
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
UMBI ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 7/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park
25/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more small snares set by bushmeat poachers
28/7/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted yet more snares
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Ithumba, Umbi, Mukomwe & South Kitui 48
49
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
MTITO ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 6/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team found a camp in the park with a bag of dried bushmeat
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Tsavo East National Park 50
51
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
J U LY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
TSAVO MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM J U LY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 5/7/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers
12/7/2026 LIFTING SNARES More snares were lifted from the conservation area
28/7/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team lifted more snares set by poachers
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Mobile in Tsavo East National Park and where needed most 52
53
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
JUNE 2026 REPORT
GALANA ANTI-POACHING TEAM M AY 2 0 2 6 S U M M A R Y O F S E C U R I T Y I N C I D E N T S The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 4/7/2026
LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted a large head of cattle found being grazed illegally in the park
6/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a poacher with 3 motorbikes loaded with bushmeat
22/7/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team confiscated a motorbike loaded with bushmeat and arrested the poacher
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
31
Galana Wildlife Conservancy 54
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 field, each and every day. © 2026 The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
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