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 2026. During the month the Mtito and Tsavo Mobile Teams were on annual leave whilst the Ithumba, Kajiado, Meru, Kapangani, Thabagunji and Ziwani teams worked part of the month. The rest of the teams were operating fulltime.
MONTH AT A GLANCE:
Kilometres covered on patrol:
36,330
52 Arrests made:
27,678
101 Bushmeat siezed kg:
907 Snares confiscated:
ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES
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
bomas along with 27 kg of honey seized, 225 logged trees and destroyed 18 hide/harbour/camps.
In March, the teams also discovered 3 elephant carcasses and handed ivory to the KWS for safekeeping They also supported human-wildlife conflict operations, pushing elephants out of community areas, along with veterinary cases and rescues. The teams in Tsavo has also been actively working with the new SWT/KWS drone teams, which are patrolling the skies over the greater Tsavo Conservation night and day.
TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED
MARCH 2026
TOTAL ARRESTS MADE
MARCH 2026
INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS
MARCH 2026
BURRA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
6/3/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln in the park
7/3/2026 DRONE TRAINING
The team supported the new SWT/KWS Drone Units with aerial patrols
23/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted many makeshift snares from the conservation area
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Voi & Tsavo East
30
KICHWA TEMBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
6/3/2026
CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found a charcoal burning site with tools but the offenders escaped
18/3/2026
CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found more charcoal burning sites and camp sites where the burners have been living in the park
30 Days on duty: Tsavo West NP & where needed most Patrol areas:
KULALU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 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:
7/3/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team confiscated a motorbike loaded with bushmeat and poaching equipment
12/3/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed an active kiln in the park
30/3/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln
Patrol areas:
Border of Southern Tsavo East within
Kulalu & Galana Ranches
DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
FEBRUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
21/3/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The Dakadima team found a camp in the park with bushmeat
21/3/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The Dakadima team found and evicted livestock from the park
21/3/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The Dakadima team found another bushmeat poaching camp and fresh carcsases
30 Days on duty: Galana Ranch and where needed most Patrol areas:
MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team found a number of wire snares set by poachers on wildlife trails
6/3/2026 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found signs of logging in the park
20/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares
MOBILE SOUTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The Mobile South team lifted wire snares from the park
19/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found more snares set by bushmeat poachers
26/3/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING CAMP
The team found a campsite in the park with bushmeat poaching and camping equipment
LAKE JIPE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/3/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted livestock and herders from the protected area
7/3/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted livestock and made some arrests of herders f
17/3/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted livestock and herders from the protected area a
30 Days on duty: Lake Jipe & where needed most Patrol areas:
YATTA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/3/2026 GIRAFFE TREATMENT
The Yatta team helped the Vet Unit treat a snared giraffe
3/3/2026 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The Yatta team responded to an elephant carcass case and handed over the ivory to KWS
29/3/2026 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The Yatta team attended to another elephant carcass case and handed the ivory over to KWS
30 Days on duty: Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East Patrol areas:
CHYULU MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 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:
9/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed wire snares set by poachers in the park
10/3/2026 CANNABIS PLANTATION
The team found another cannabis plantation
26/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team removed more wire snares
Chyulu Hills National Park & Kiboko Ranch Patrol areas:
ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
24/3/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a poacher with a giraffe carcass and a motorbike in the park
30/3/2026 ILLEGAL CAMP
The team found and destroyed a makeshift cam in the park
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Tsavo West
18
THABANGUNJI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
21/3/2026 BROKEN IVORY
The team found a piece of elephant ivory must likely broken off naturally. This was handed over to KWS
18 Days on duty: Galana Conservancy & Thabangunji Patrol areas:
MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
27/3/2026 CANNABIS PLANTATION
The Mukururo team found and destroyed a cannabis plantation in the park
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Chyulu Hills
30
KENZE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
10/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The Kenze team lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers in the Chyulu Hills
30 Days on duty: Kibwezi Forest Patrol areas:
SHOMPOLE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/3/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team lifted snares from the conservation area
16/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more large snares from the park
20/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found many large snares and a recently snared antelope
Days on duty: Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo Patrol areas:
CHYULU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team found small snares set by poachers in the park
15/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares and makeshift traps from the park
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Chyulu Hills
31/3/2026 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found an active logging site in the park
KULALU II ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
9/3/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a bushmeat poached and confiscated fresh meat and carcasses
14/3/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a poacher with a motorbike loaded with fresh bushmeat
23/3/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested another poachers with a consignment of fresh bushmeat
Days on duty: Greater Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
ITHUMBA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
20/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed snares from the park
27/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found more small snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
29/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed more snares from the park
18 Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KAJIADO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
w of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
23/3/2026 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park
18 Days on duty: Kajiado & Arabuko Sokoke Patrol areas:
MERU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
23/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of large snares from the park
26/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares set by bushmeat poachers
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Meru National Park
TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
23/3/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a bushmeat poacher with fresh meat in a camp in the park
28/3/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site and making poles from trees
30 Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
21/3/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team found a campsite in the park with evidence of bushmeat poaching
22/3/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted cattle from the park and arrested herders
28/3/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team found a poachers camp in the park with fresh carcasses
18 Days on duty: Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
KWALE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
16/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found small snares set by bushmeat poachers in the conservation area
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Shimba Hills National Reserve
30
SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
9/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted wire snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
13/3/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares
25/3/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln in the park
30 Days on duty: Central Tsavo East Patrol areas:
UMBI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
8/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park
11/3/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team found a camp with fresh bushmeat
16/3/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed more snares from the conservation area
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Ithumba, Umbi, Mukomwe & South Kitui
GALANA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
MARCH 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
28/3/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The Galana Wildlife Conservancy team found a camp in the park and fresh bushmeat. The poachers escaped arrest
30 Days on duty: Galana Wildlife Conservancy Patrol areas:
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
