JA N UA R Y 2 0 2 6
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 January 2026. During the month the Mobile South and Tiva teams were on annual leave whilst the Bura, Yatta, Kenze, Kichwa Tembo, Kulalu, Kwale and Mukururo teams worked part of the month. The rest of the teams were operating fulltime.
MONTH AT A GLANCE:
Kilometres covered on patrol:
35,647
85 Arrests made:
27,678
126 Ivory recovered kg:
939 Snares confiscated:
ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES
JANUARY 2026
We currently operate 32 Anti-Poaching Teams with the KWS throughout Kenya 25 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
JANUARY 2026
In January, SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams lifted 939 snares and made 85 arrests, including the arrest of 2 bushmeat poachers and 17 suspected bushmeat poachers Other arrests made during the month include 57 herders, 1 firewood collector, 1 charcoal burner, 2 loggers, 3 miraa harvesters, and 1 arrest made for illegal entry into the park.
During the month, the teams destroyed 11 charcoal kilns including 14 harbors/hides/camps used by offenders in the parks along with 63 livestock bomas.
In January, the teams also discovered 2 elephant carcasses and handed 126kg of ivory to the KWS for safekeeping. They also supported human-wildlife conflict operations, pushing elephants out of community areas, along with several veterinary cases and rescues.
TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED
JANUARY 2026
TOTAL ARRESTS MADE
JANUARY 2026
INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS
JANUARY 2026
BURRA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/1/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found a charcoal burning site with sacks ready for the market
6/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed snared from the park
31/12/2026 ORPHANED ZEBRA
The team rescued an orphaned zebra and transferred it to the Kaluku Nursery for care
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Voi & Tsavo East
18
KICHWA TEMBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
1/1/2026 ONGOING PATROLS
The team worked part of the month and didn't discover any illegal activaties
Patrol areas:
18 Days on duty: Tsavo West NP & where needed most
KULALU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 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:
3/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team found small snares and traps set by poachers in the park
7/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team found small snares and traps set by poachers in the park
8/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team found small snares and traps set by poachers in the park
Patrol areas:
Border of Southern Tsavo East within
Kulalu & Galana Ranches
DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/1/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The Dakadima team found and evicted cattle found grazing in the park
17/1/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The Dakadima team found and evicted cattle found grazing in the park
24/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team apprehended a motorbike with bushmeat in the park
30 Days on duty: Galana Ranch and where needed most Patrol areas:
MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
on duty:
5/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team found a number of small wire snares set by poachers on wildlife trails
17/1/2026 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team worked with the SWT Aerial Unit to treat an injured elephant
27/1/2026 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team worked with the SWT Aerial Unit to treat an injured elephant
LAKE JIPE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
11/1/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted livestock and herders from the protected area and destroyed a boma
12/1/2026
ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team discovered an elephant carcass and handed the tusks over to KWS for safekeeping
23/1/2026 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
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/1/2026 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The Yatta team found signs of logging inside the park
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East
CHYULU MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
19/1/2026 MIRAA HARVESTING
The team arrested a man growing and harvesting miraa in the park
26/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team found wire snares set by poachers and removed them from the forest
29/1/2026 CANNABIS PLANTATION
The team found a cannabis plantation in the park and destroyed it
30 Days on duty: Chyulu Hills National Park & Kiboko Ranch Patrol areas:
ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Tsavo West
19/1/2026 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team helped the Aerial and Vet Unit treat an injured elephant
24/1/2026 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team helped the Aerial and Vet Unit treat an injured elephant
30/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team ambushed a homestead on the border of the park and found bushmeat
THABANGUNJI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
17/1/2026 MIRAA HARVESTING
The team arrested 2 men caught harvesting miraa in the park
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Galana Conservancy & Thabangunji
MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
4/1/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The Mukururo team lifted snares set by poachers from the conservation area
12/1/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares set by poachers from the conservation area
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Chyulu Hills
18
SHOMPOLE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 3 bushmeat poachers caught setting snares in the park
23/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares and traps from the park
28/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team found many large snares and foot traps set by poachers in the park
30 Days on duty: Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo Patrol areas:
CHYULU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
15/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted large snares set by poachers in the park
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Chyulu Hills
29/1/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln
30/1/2026 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team attended to the sighting of an elephant carcass and removed the tusks to handover to KWS
KULALU II ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team apprehended a man in his homestead caught with fresh bushmeat
8/1/2026 BUSMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 3 bushmeat poachers on bicycles carrying bushmeat out the park
11/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 2 bushmeat poachers with fresh meat in the park
30 Days on duty: Greater Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
ITHUMBA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
12/1/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed snares from the park
22/1/2026
LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team pushed cattle and livestock out of the park
31/1/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed more snares from the park
30 Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KAJIADO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
4/1/2026 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park
18/1/2026 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found more logging sites in the park and increased security presence in the area
22/1/2026 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team arrested 2 loggers caught logging in the park
30 Days on duty: Kajiado & Arabuko Sokoke Patrol areas:
MERU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
16/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of large snares from the park
21/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POAHCING
The team caught a bushmeat poacher in possession of bushmeat
23/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POAHCING
The team caught 3 men in possession of bushmeat
Days on duty: Meru National Park Patrol areas:
TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/1/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park
3/1/2026
CAMPSITE
The found a freshly used campsite in the park
5/1/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of small snares from the park
30 Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
6/1/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team found and evicted livestock found grazing in the park
27/1/2026 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
More livestock was pushed out of the park
30 Days on duty: Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
KWALE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/1/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed small wire snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Shimba Hills National Reserve
30
SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
10/1/2026 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team helped the Aerial and Vet Units treat an injured elephant
25/1/2026 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln
27/1/2026 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
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
11/1/2026
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park
16/1/2026
LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted cattle from the park - the herders fled the scene
22/1/2026
LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team pushed more cattle out of the park and arrested a herder
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Ithumba, Umbi, Mukomwe & South Kitui
MTITO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
22/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park
25/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team confiscated fresh bushmeat loaded on a bicycle in the park. The bushmeat poacher escaped.
30 Days on duty: Tsavo East National Park Patrol areas:
TSAVO MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The Tsavo Mobile team lifted small snares from the park
8/1/2026 LIFTING SNARES
The team removed more snares from the park
28/1/2026 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
JANUARY 2026 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
12/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The Galana Wildlife Conservancy team arrested 2 men driving a bus and transporting fresh bushmeat
19/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team confiscated a motorbike, which had been used to transport bushmeat out of the park and arrested 2 poachers
24/1/2026 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team confiscated a motorbike, which had been used to transport bushmeat out of the park - the poachers escaped arrest
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