SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Report March 2025

S H E L D R I C K

W I L D L I F E

T R U S T

ANTI-POACHING TEAMS OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE

MARCH 2025 REPORT

MARCH 2025

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 March 2025. During the month the Mtito team was on annual leave whilst the Ithumba, Kajiado, Meru, Mobile South, Thabagunji and Ziwani teams worked part of the month. The rest of the teams were operating fulltime.

MONTH AT A GLANCE:

27,678

Kilometres covered on patrol:

Arrests made:

Elephant ivory confiscated (kg):

Snares confiscated:

43,339

46

53

1,190 1

S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S

MARCH 2025 REPORT

ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES M A RC H 2 0 2 5

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.

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES LOG M A RC H 2 0 2 5

During the month the KWS/SWT De-Snaring Units lifted 1,190 snares and made 46 arrests including 4 arrests for poaching activities and 3 arrests for possession of bushmeat. Other arrests made during the month included 3 charcoal burners, 1 fisherman, 7 firewood collectors, 11 livestock herders, 4 loggers, and 3 arrests made for illegal entry into the parks. Bushmeat confiscated from poachers and camps totaled 11kg including 17 carcasses.

During the month, the teams destroyed 40 charcoal kilns, 11 charcoal camps, including 8 charcoal sacks, along with 18 harbors/hides/camps used by offenders in the parks and 7 livestock bomas.

In March the teams also discovered 3 elephant carcasses and handed over 53kg of ivory to the KWS.

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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

MARCH 2025 REPORT

TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED MARCH 2025

ARRESTS MADE MARCH 2025

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INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS MARCH 2025

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

KICHWA TEMBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 8/3/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING The team found a charcoal burning site in the park and destroyed it

19/3/2025

LIVESTOCK INTRUSION

The team evicted a large herd of livestock found illegally grazing in the park - the herders escaped

21/3/2025

CHARCOAL CAMP

The team found and destroyed a charcoal camp

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Tsavo West NP & where needed most 6

7

S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S

MARCH 2025 REPORT

BURRA ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 3/3/2025

CHARCOAL BURNING

The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln found in the park

15/3/2025

CHARCOAL BURNING

The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln

27/3/2025

ELEPHANT TREATMENT

The team helped the Tsavo Vet Unit treat an elephant with a poaching wound but sadly the elephant's injuries were too severe and it had to be euthanised

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Voi & Tsavo East 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

MARCH 2025 REPORT

KULALU ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 16/3/2025

CHARCOAL CAMP

The team found a charcoal camp with bags of charcoal ready for market

17/3/2025

ELEPHANT TREATMENT

The team helped the SWT/KWS Vet Unit treat an elephant with an arrow wound but sadly the elephant died from its injuries

26/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

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

MARCH 2025 REPORT

DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 9/3/2025 LOGGING The team found and destroyed a logging camp in the park

13/3/2025 LOGGING The team found and destroyed a logging camp in the park

15/3/2025 LIFTING SNARES The team lifted a number of wire snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Galana Ranch and where needed most 12

13

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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

11/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted small wire snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park

14/3/2025

ELEPHANT POACHER

The team arrested a poacher caught with a bow and poisoned arrows used to hunt and kill elephants

3/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

Snares were lifted from the park set by poachers to trap small wild animals

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Fully Mobile in Northern Tsavo Conservation Area 14

15

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

MOBILE SOUTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 17/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The Mobile South team found a recently used bushmeat poachers camp and remove wire snares from the area

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Fully Mobile in Southern Tsavo Conservation Area 16

17

S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S

MARCH 2025 REPORT

LAKE JIPE ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 13/3/2025 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION The team rounded up a herd of cattle found grazing in the park

16/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted a number of wire snares and bird traps from the park

24/3/2025

LIVESTOCK HERDERS

The team arrested four livestock herders found grazing thier cattle within the protected area

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Lake Jipe & where needed most 18

19

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

YATTA ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 6/3/2025

ELEPHANT IVORY

The team found a piece of broken elephant tusk in the park, which had most likely broken off during a natural elephant fight

14/3/2025

ELEPHANT IVORY

The team found another piece of ivory, which was again handed over to KWS for safekeeping

31/3/2025

LIVESTOCK INTRUSION

The team found and evicted livestock in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East 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

MARCH 2025 REPORT

CHYULU MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 3/3/2025

WORLD WILDLIFE DAY

The team participated in the annual World Wildlife Day activities with KWS and stakeholders

11/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team removed a large number of snares from the conservation area

20/3/2025

CANNABIS PLANTATION

The team found and destroyed a cannabis planation in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Chyulu Hills National Park & Kiboko Ranch 22

23

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 21/3/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING The team destroyed a live charcoal kiln found in the park near logging sites

25/3/2025

CHARCOAL BURNING

The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln in the park

30/3/2025

CHARCOAL BURNING

The team destroyed another charcoal kiln

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Tsavo West 24

25

MARCH 2025 REPORT

S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S

THABANGUNJI ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 22/3/2025

ILLEGAL LOGGING

The team found a logging site in the park

27/3/2025

GIRAFFE CARCASS

The team found a fresh carcass of a giraffe, which is presumed to have died from natural causes

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Galana Conservancy & Thabangunji 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

MARCH 2025 REPORT

MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 4/3/2025

CANNABIS PLANTATION

The Mukururo team found and destroyed a cannabis plantation in the park

9/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The Mukururo team found a number of wire snares in the park set by bushmeat poachers

11/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team found more snares during the month

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Chyulu Hills 28

29

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

KENZE ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 5/3/2025

ILLEGAL LOGGING

The Kenze team found an illegal logging site and camp in the park

17/3/2025

CHARCOAL BURNING

The team arrested a man caught harvesting charcoal from a kiln in the park

19/3/2025

ILLEGAL LOGGING

The team found another logging site

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Kibwezi Forest 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

MARCH 2025 REPORT

SHOMPOLE ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 5/3/2025

BUFFALO TREATMENT

The team helped the vet unit treat a snared buffalo

17/3/2025

ZEBRA TREATMENT

The team supported the vet unit in treating a snared zebra

30/3/2025

CHARCOAL BURNING

The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo 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

MARCH 2025 REPORT

CHYULU ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 25/2/2025

CANNABIS PLANTATION

The team found and destroyed a cannabis plantation in the park

18/3/2025

FENCE REPAIR

The team helped the fence repair crew repair a fence broken by elephants

21/3/2025

BUSHMEAT POACHER

The team arrested a bushmeat poacher found setting wire snares in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Chyulu Hills 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

MARCH 2025 REPORT

KULALU II ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 6/3/2025 BUFFALO TREATMENT The team helped the Vet Unit treat an injured buffalo

24/3/2025 ELEPHANT TREATMENT The team helped the Vet Unit treat an elephant with a poisoned arrow wouund

27/3/2025 ELEPHANT TREATMENT The team once again supported the Vet Unit in treating an injured elephant

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Greater Galana Conservation Area 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

MARCH 2025 REPORT

ITHUMBA ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 22/3/2025

CHARCOAL CAMP

The team discovered a charcoal camp and arrested 2 charcoal burners who were also caught with fresh bushmeat

25/3/2025

POACHERS

The team arrested 2 poachers with bows and arrows and snares

30/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team found large snares in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Northern Area of Tsavo East 38

39

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

KAJIADO ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 1/3/2025

ONGOING PATROLS

Due to an issue with the Kajiado team's camera this month no photos are available

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Kajiado & Arabuko Sokoke 40

S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S

MARCH 2025 REPORT

MERU ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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

24/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted a number of large snares from the park

24/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted more snares set by bushmeat poachers

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Meru National Park 41

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 14/3/2025 POACHING The team found a homestead with a bow and arrows and poaching equipment

18/3/2025

ILLEGAL LOGGING

The team found a logging site in the park

31/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team found several small snares in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Northern Area of Tsavo East 43

44

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 4/3/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING The team found a logging site in the park

10/3/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING The team arrested a poacher in the park caught with a consignment of bushmeat and poaching tools

13/3/2025 FIREFIGHTING The team helped fight a bushfire in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Galana Conservation Area 45

46

S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S

MARCH 2025 REPORT

KWALE ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 14/3/2025

ILLEGAL LOGGING

The team arrested a man caught logging and woodcarving in the park

15/3/2025

FIREFIGHTING

The team helped fight a wild fire in the park

24/3/2025

ZEBRA TREATMENT

The team helped the Vet Unit treat an injured zebra

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Shimba Hills National Reserve 47

48

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 10/3/2025 LIFTING SNARES The team lifted snares from the park, which had been set by bushmeat poachers

12/3/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING The team found and destroyed a logging camp in the park

26/3/2025 LIFTING SNARES The team lifted small snares from the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Central Tsavo East 49

50

S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S

MARCH 2025 REPORT

UMBI ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 7/3/2025

BUSHMEAT POACHER

The team arrested a man caught setting snares in the park

16/3/2025

CHARCOAL BURNING

The team arrested 2 men working on a charcoal kiln

25/3/2025

BUSHMEAT POACHERS

The team arrested another 2 men caught setting snares in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Ithumba, Umbi, Mukomwe & South Kitui 51

52

S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S

MARCH 2025 REPORT

TSAVO MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 2/3/2025

ILLEGAL FISHING

The Tsavo Mobile team arrested a man caught fishing in the park

12/3/2025 ELEPHANT CONFLICT The team helped the KWS move an elephant caught on the wrong side of the fenceline

30/3/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted small snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Mobile in Tsavo East National Park and where needed most 53

54

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MARCH 2025 REPORT

GALANA ANTI-POACHING TEAM M A RC H 2 0 2 5 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 4/3/2025

ONGOING PATROLS

The Galana Wildlife Conservancy team continued with daily patrols, but due to an issue with their camera they were unable to take any photos during the month

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Galana Wildlife Conservancy 55

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. © 2025 The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

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