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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
M AY 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 May 2026, covering teams on duty.
MONTH AT A GLANCE: Kilometres covered on patrol:
34,402
27,678
Arrests made:
35
Bushmeat siezed kg:
Snares confiscated:
74
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M AY 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
ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES M AY 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES LOG M AY 2 0 2 6
In May, SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams lifted 690 snares and made 35 arrests and cautions including 9 cases of suspected poaching, 7 cases of illegal resource use, 5 cases of illegal entry into a protected area, 5 cases of illegal grazing, 4 cases involving possession of wildlife products, 3 cases of illegal fishing, and 1 case each of suspected illegal logging and other unspecified offences. These figures highlight the broad range of threats being addressed by the teams, with poaching and illegal resource use remaining the most significant drivers of enforcement action. During the reporting period, the teams also seized 74kg of bushmeat, destroyed 8 charcoal camps and 32 charcoal kilns, and destroyed 8 sacks of charcoal. They also dismantled 9 illegal livestock bomas, seized 43kg of honey, recorded 267 logged trees, and destroyed 31 illegal hides, harbours and camps. In May, the teams also discovered 1 elephant carcass and handed 67kg of 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.
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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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED M AY 2 0 2 6
TOTAL ARRESTS MADE M AY 2 0 2 6
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INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS MAY 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
BURRA 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 4/5/2026
ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found a fresh elephant carcass and removed the tusks to handover to KWS
16/5/2026
ZEBRA RESCUE
The team rescued a young zebra stuck in a gulley in the park
18/5/2026
CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found a charcoal burning site and logging area in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Voi & Tsavo East 6
7
M AY 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 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 6/5/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING The team found a charcoal kiln and destroyed it
16/5/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
24/5/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING The team found a charcoal burning sites and camp and destroyed it
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
KULALU 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 12/5/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team apprehended a bushmeat poacher in the park with poaching tools
23/5/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING The team found and destroyed a charcoal camp
26/5/2026
CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln found 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
MOBILE SOUTH 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 2/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The Mobile South team lifted wire snares from the park
23/5/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a bushmeat poacher caught in the park
27/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares set by poachers
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Fully Mobile in Southern Tsavo Conservation Area 12
13
M AY 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 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 23/5/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION The team evicted livestock and herders from the protected area
25/5/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION The team evicted more livestock
26/5/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION The team found a recently used campsite by livestock herders
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Lake Jipe & where needed most 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
YATTA 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 8/5/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The Yatta team found signs of logging in the park
15/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The Yatta team lifted large snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
24/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The Yatta team lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
KARI Ranch 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
CHYULU MOBILE 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 24/5/2026 ILLEGAL LOGGING The team found signs of logging in the park
25/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares set by poachers in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Chyulu Hills National Park & KARI Ranch 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
ZIWANI 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 5/5/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION The team pushed livestock out of the park
8/5/2026
CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln in the park
26/5/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team found an old fashioned trap made to poach wildlife
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Tsavo West 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
THABANGUNJI 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 6/5/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team confiscated bushmeat from a camp in the park
21/5/2026
CANNABIS PLANTATION
The team found a cannabis plantation in the park and destroyed it
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Galana Conservancy & Thabangunji 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
MUKURURO 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 20/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The Mukururo team found fresh snares in the park set by bushmeat poachers
30/5/2026
KWS MEETING
The Mukururo team joined KWS and other stakeholders in an annual conservation meeting
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
KENZE 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 9/5/2026
CANNABIS PLANTATION
The Kenze team found a cannabis plantation in the park and destroyed it
23/5/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The Kenze team found signs of logging in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Kibwezi Forest 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
SHOMPOLE 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 22/5/2026
GIRAFFE TREATMENT
The team helped the SWT/KWS Vet Unit treat an injured giraffe
25/5/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park
29/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found snares set by bushmeat poachers
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
CHYULU 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 26/5/2026
ILLEGAL CAMP
The team found a recently used campsite in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Chyulu Hills 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
KULALU II 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 7/4/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING The team found ambushed 2 poachers in their homestead caught with fresh bushmeat and arrows
15/4/2026 ILLEGAL LOGGING The team rescued found signs of illegal logging in the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
Greater Galana Conservation Area 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
ITHUMBA 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 10/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed snares from the park
12/5/2026
WILD DOG TREATMENT
The team worked with the SWT/KWS Veterinary Unit to assess an injured wild dog in the park
29/5/2026
ELEPHANT CONFLICT
The team worked with the SWT Aerial Unit to move elephants out of community land and back into the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Northern Area of Tsavo East 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
KAJIADO 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
3/5/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found logging sites in the park
11/5/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team arrested a logger in the park
27/5/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team arrested another logger
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Kajiado & Arabuko Sokoke 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
MERU 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
6/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of large snares from the park
19/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares set by bushmeat poachers
27/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more snares set by bushmeat poachers
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Meru National Park 38
39
M AY 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 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
5/5/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found and destroyed a logging site in the park
14/5/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team arrested a logger in the park
23/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed small snares and traps from the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Northern Area of Tsavo East 40
41
S W T/ K W S A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
KAPANGANI 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 6/5/2026 CATTLE INTRUSION The team evicted cattle found grazing in the park
9/5/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team found many old fashioned snares set in the protected area
22/5/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING The team apprehended 3 poachers with bushmeat and tools
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Galana Conservation Area 42
43
M AY 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
KWALE 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 13/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found small snares set by bushmeat poachers in the conservation area
15/5/2026
BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team apprehended a man caught setting snares
24/5/2026
ELEPHANT CONFLICT
The team helped move elephants out of community lands and back into the safety of the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Shimba Hills National Reserve 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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
SOBO 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 25/5/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING The team arrested a poacher caught with bushmeat and arrows and a porcupine carcass
27/5/2026 LIFTING SNARES The team lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers
30/5/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
UMBI 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 25/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park
26/5/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more small snares set by bushmeat poachers
28/5/2026
LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team found and pushed out livestock from the park (photo of previous snare recovery)
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
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
M AY 2 0 2 6 R E P O R T
MTITO 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 10/5/2026
ZEBRA RESCUE
The team rescued a young zebra trapped in a fence line
20/5/2026
DOUM PALM HARVESTING
The team apprehended a man harvesting palm wine in the park
22/5/2026
ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site and shut it down
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Tsavo East National Park 50
51
M AY 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
TSAVO MOBILE 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 2/5/2026 LIFTING SNARES The Tsavo Mobile team lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers
25/5/2026 LIFTING SNARES More snares were lifted from the conservation area
27/5/2026 CATTLE INTRUSION The Tsavo Mobile team evicted cattle from the park
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
30
Mobile in Tsavo East National Park and where needed most 52
53
M AY 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
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 19/5/2026
ONGOING PATROLS
The Galana Wildlife Conservancy team worked half of the month and continued daily patrols without any illegal incidents
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
13
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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