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 December 2025. During the month the Ithumba, Kajiado and Meru teams were on annual leave whilst the Mobile South, Mtito, 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:
40,566
36 Arrests made:
27,678
61 Ivory recovered kg:
881 Snares con scated:
ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES
DECEMBER 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
DECEMBER 2025
In December , SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams lifted 881 snares and made 36 arrests, including the arrest of 3 bushmeat poachers and 9 suspected bushmeat poachers. Other arrests made during the month include 3 herders, 7 rewood collectors 5 charcoal burners, 4 shermen, 1 logger, 3 miraa harvesters, and 1 arrest made for illegal entry into the park
During the month, the teams destroyed 15 charcoal kilns including 10 harbors/hides/camps used by offenders in the parks along with 7 livestock bomas
In December, the teams also discovered 2 elephant carcasses and handed 60kg of ivory to the KWS for safekeeping. They also supported re ghting operations, pushing elephants out of community areas, along with several veterinary cases and rescues
TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED
DECEMBER 2025
TOTAL ARRESTS MADE
DECEMBER 2025
INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS
DECEMBER 2025
BURRA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/12/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found a charcoal burning site with sacks ready for the market
23/12/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging and charcoal burning site in the park
31/12/2025 ORPHANED ZEBRA
The team rescued an orphaned zebra and transferred it to the Kaluku Nursery for care
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Voi & Tsavo East
KICHWA TEMBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
1/12/2025 ILLEGAL FISHING
The team arrested 2 shermen shing in the park
15/12/2025 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found a fresh elephant carcass and removed the ivory to handover to KWS
22/12/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a poacher caught with fresh bushmeat carcasses in the park
30 Days on duty: Tsavo West NP & where needed most Patrol areas:
KULALU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 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:
25/12/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team caught a poacher in the park with fresh bushmeat
28/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found small snares and traps set by poachers in the park
29/12/2025 CAMPSITE
The team found a makeshift camp in the park with snares set in the local area
Patrol areas:
Border
of Southern Tsavo East within Kulalu & Galana Ranches
DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
10/12/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The Dakadima team found a logging site in the park
16/12/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team arrested a logger collecting hardwood and poles
18/12/2025 WOOD CARVING
The team caught a man in the park logging and carving wood
30 Days on duty: Galana Ranch and where needed most Patrol areas:
MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found a number of small wire snares set by poachers on wildlife trails
9/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found a snares set by bushmeat poachers
30 Days on duty: Fully Mobile in Northern Tsavo Conservation Area Patrol areas:
MOBILE SOUTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
18 Days on duty:
9/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The Mobile South team lifted small and medium wire snares from the park
16/12/2025 ELEPHANT CONFLICT
The team worked with the SWT aerial unit to push elephants trapped in community land back into the park
29/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted large and small snares from the park
LAKE JIPE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
4/12/2025 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted livestock and herders from the protected area and destroyed a boma
14/12/2025 LIVESTOCK INSTRUSION
The team evicted livestock from the protected area
23/12/2025 LIVESTOCK INSTRUSION
The team found camps set up by herders operating in the area
30 Days on duty: Lake Jipe & where needed most Patrol areas:
YATTA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/12/2025 SHOOTING PLATFORM
The Yatta team found a baobab tree used by poachers targeting animals with arrows
7/12/2025 BROKEN IVORY
The Yatta team found a piece of broken elephant tusk most likely broken due to a territorial ght
30 Days on duty: Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East Patrol areas:
CHYULU MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 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:
11/12/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a poacher with fresh carcasses and snares
29/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found wire snares set by poachers and removed them from the forest
30/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found wire snares set by poachers and removed them from the forest
Chyulu Hills National Park & Kiboko Ranch Patrol areas:
ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
21/12/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln in the park
22/12/2025 FIREFIGHTING
The team fought a wild re in the park
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Tsavo West
18
THABANGUNJI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
8/12/2025 DAILY
PATROLS
The team continued daily patrols for part of the month but their camera was out of order
Days on duty: Galana Conservancy & Thabangunji Patrol areas:
MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
4/12/2025
LIFTING SNARES
The Mukururo team lifted snares set by poachers from the conservation area
30 Days on duty: Chyulu Hills Patrol areas:
14/12/2025
LIFTING SNARES
The Mukururo team lifted snares set by poachers from the conservation area
KENZE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
12/12/2025
ELEPHANT CONFLICT
The Kenze team helped to push a herd of elephants out of community land and back into the safety of the park
30 Days on duty: Kibwezi Forest Patrol areas:
SHOMPOLE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
12/12/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed an active kiln in the park
28/12/2025 SNARED ZEBRA
The team helped the Vet Unit treat a snared zebra
30/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found many large snares set by poachers in the park
30 Days on duty: Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo Patrol areas:
CHYULU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 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: Chyulu Hills Patrol areas:
22/12/2025 MIRAA HARVESTING
The team arrested a group found harvesting miraa in the park
23/12/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a poacher caught with fresh bushmeat
30/12/2025 CANNABIS PLANTATION
The team found a small cannabis plantation and removed the plants
KULALU II ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
10/12/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team con scated a motorbike loaded with fresh bushmeat The poachers escaped
13/12/2025 BUSMEAT POACHING
The team con scated a bike with bushmeat The poacher escape arrest
24/12/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 2 bushmeat poachers with dried meat in their homestead
Days on duty: Greater Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month 1/12/2025 ONGOING
PATROLS
The team carried on patrols this month but had an issue with their camera and couldn't provide photos
30 Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
27/12/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team con scated a motorbike which had been carrying bushmeat out of the park The owner escaped
Days on duty: Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
KWALE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025
SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
9/12/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team apprehended 2 bushmeat poachers caught with handmade bird traps
19/12/2025 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park
25/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found wire snares set by poachers
30 Days on duty: Shimba Hills National Reserve Patrol areas:
SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found snares set by poachers in the park
6/12/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln
22/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found snares set by poachers in the park
30 Days on duty: Central Tsavo East Patrol areas:
UMBI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
on
4/12/2025 MISSING CHILD
The team tracked a missing lost boy over a vast distance to return him to his family
10/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team found small snares and removed them
30/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers
MTITO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
1/12/2025 ONGOING PATROLS
The team carried on patrols this month but had an issue with their camera and couldn't provide photos
18 Days on duty: Tsavo East National Park Patrol areas:
TSAVO MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
23/12/2025 ELEPHANT CONFLICT
The Tsavo Mobile team helped the SWT Aerial Unit to push elephants caught in community land back into the Park
30/12/2025 LIFTING SNARES
The team removed more snares from the park
30 Days on duty:
Mobile in Tsavo East National Park and where needed most Patrol areas:
GALANA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2025 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
27/12/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The Galana Wildlife Conservancy team con scated a motorbike, which had been used to transport bushmeat out of the park
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 eld, each and every day
