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SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Report November 2025

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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT


NOVEMBER 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 November 2025. During the month the Chyulu, Shompole and Kulalu II teams were on annual leave whilst the Chyulu Mobile, Dakadima, Mobile North, Sobo, Umbi, Jipe and Galana 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:

35,367

21

Ivory recovered kg:

Snares confiscated:

38

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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 5

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.

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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES LOG N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 5

In November, SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams lifted 712 snares and made 21 arrests, including the arrest of 1 bushmeat poacher and 10 suspected bushmeat poachers. Other arrests made during the month include 9 herders and 1 arrest made for illegal entry into the park. Bushmeat confiscated from poachers and camps included over 100kg of bushmeat and carcasses including kudu and zebra meat.  During the month, the teams destroyed 7 charcoal kilns including 6 harbors/hides/camps used by offenders in the parks along with 7 livestock bomas.  In November, the teams also discovered 2 elephant carcasses and handed 38kg of ivory to the KWS for safekeeping. They also supported firefighting operations, pushing elephants out of community areas, along with several 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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED NOVEMBER 2025

TOTAL ARRESTS MADE NOVEMBER 2025

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INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS NOVEMBER 2025

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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

BURRA ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 2/11/2025 ZEBRA TREATMENT  The team helped the vet unit treat an injured zebra calf

6/11/2025

BUSHMEAT POACHING

The team arrested a man caught with fresh bushmeat at his homestead

25/11/2025

BUFFALO TREATMENT

The team attended to 2 buffalos during the month, both which needed urgent assistance

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Voi & Tsavo East 6


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

KICHWA TEMBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 3/11/2025 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION The team found large herds of cattle in the parks and pushed them out

19/11/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING The team arrested a poacher caught with fresh bushmeat carcasses in the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Tsavo West NP & where needed most 8


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

KULALU ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 9/11/2025

BUSHMEAT POACHING

The team caught 3 men in the park with fresh bushmeat carcasses and snares

17/11/2025

ILLEGAL LOGGING

The team found a logging site in the park and destroyed it

28/11/2025

CHARCOAL BURNING

The team found a fresh kiln and destroyed

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Border of Southern Tsavo East within Kulalu & Galana Ranches 10


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 27/11/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING The Dakadima team arrested a bushmeat poacher caught with a large consignment of fresh bushmeat and lamping tools

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Galana Ranch and where needed most 12


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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

20/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team found a number of small wire snares set by poachers on wildlife trails

28/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team found a snares set by bushmeat poachers as well as makeshift bird traps

30/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted a selection of snares set by poachers

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Fully Mobile in Northern Tsavo Conservation Area 14


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

MOBILE SOUTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 5/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The Mobile South team lifted small and medium wire snares from the park

11/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted more snares set by bushmeat poachers

29/11/2025 ELEPHANT CONFLICT  The team attended to cases of fence breaking elephants caught between the park and community land

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Fully Mobile in Southern Tsavo Conservation Area 16


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

LAKE JIPE ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 23/11/2025 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION The team evicted livestock and herders from the protected area

25/11/2025 LIVESTOCK CAMP  The team found camps set up by herders operating in the area

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Lake Jipe & where needed most 18


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

YATTA ANTI-POACHING TEAM O C TO B E R 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 9/11/2025

BROKEN IVORY

The Yatta team found broken pieces of elephant tusk in the park and handed them over to KWS

10/11/2025

SHOOTING PLATFORM

The Yatta team found and destroyed a shooting platform built by a poacher

27/11/2025

ELEPHANT TREATMENT

The Yatta team helped the Vet Unit treat an injured elephant

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East 20


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

CHYULU MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 25/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team found wire snares set by poachers and removed them from the forest

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Chyulu Hills National Park & Kiboko Ranch 22


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 6/11/2025

BUSHMEAT POACHING

The team apprehended 2 motorbikes loaded with fresh bushmeat

16/11/2025

CHARCOAL KILN

The team found a charcoal kiln and destroyed it

21/11/2025

CHARCOAL KILN

The team found and destroyed another kiln

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Tsavo West 24


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NOVEMBER 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 N OV E M B E R 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 8/11/2025

FIREFIGHTING

The team helped fight a wild fire in the park

9/11/2025

ILLEGAL LOGGING

The team found a logging site

15/11/2025

ILLEGAL LOGGING

The team found a logging campsite with tools

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Galana Conservancy & Thabangunji 26


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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

NOVEMBERT 2025 REPORT

MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 2/11/2025

DAILY PATROLS

The Mukururo team continued with daily patrols during the month and didn't find any illegal activities

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Chyulu Hills 28


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

KENZE ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 5/11/2025

ELEPHANT CONFLICT

The Kenze team helped the Aerial Unit and KWS to push a herd of elephants out of community land and back into the safety of the park

17/11/2025

TREE PLANTING

The Kenze team took part in a tree planting exercise with KWS

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Kibwezi Forest 30


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

ITHUMBA ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 2/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team found and removed snares from the park

3/11/2025

BUSHMEAT POACHING

The team arrested a man in the park caught setting snares

29/11/2025

ELEPHANT CONFLICT

The team worked with the Aerial Unit to push elephants that had strayed into community areas back into the safety of the park

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Northern Area of Tsavo East 32


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

KAJIADO ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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

2/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team found and removed snares from the conservation area

17/11/2025

CHARCOAL BURNING

The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln

22/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted wire snares and bird traps from the area

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Kajiado & Arabuko Sokoke 34


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NOVEMBER 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

TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 3/11/2025 LIFTING SNARES The team lifted small snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park

8/11/2025 LIFTING SNARES The team lifted more snares from the park

14/11/2025 BROKEN ELEPHANT IVORY  The team found a small piece of broken elephant tusk and handed it over to the KWS

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Northern Area of Tsavo East 36


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 2/11/2025 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION The team evicted a large herd of livestock from the park

3/11/2025 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION The team pushed more large herds of livestock out of the park

27/11/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING The team apprehended 2 motorbikes with fresh bushmeat and arrested a bushmeat poacher

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Galana Conservation Area 38


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NOVEMBER 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

KWALE ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 7/11/2025 ELEPHANT RESCUE The team rescued an adult elephant stuck in a muddy wallow

15/11/2025 ELEPHANT CARCASS  The team found and a recent elephant carcass and handed the ivory over to KWS

27/11/2025 LIFTING SNARES  The team found makeshift snares set by poachers

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Shimba Hills National Reserve 40


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 23/11/2025 LIFTING SNARES The team found snares set by poachers in the park

26/11/2025 CHARCOAL BURNING The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Central Tsavo East 42


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

UMBI ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 21/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team found small snares set by poachers in the park

28/11/2025

ILLEGAL CAMP

The team found a camp in the park with hidden stores of water

30/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

18

Ithumba, Umbi, Mukomwe & South Kitui 44


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

MTITO ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 21/11/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING The team confiscated2 bikes and fresh bushmeat

24/11/2025 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION  The team captured a herd of livestock found illegally grazing in the park

26/11/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING The team arrested 2 bushmeat poachers caught with poaching tools and fresh meat

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Tsavo East National Park 46


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NOVEMBER 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

TSAVO MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 12/11/2025 LIFTING SNARES The Tsavo Mobile team lifted snares set by poachers to trap large animals

16/11/2025 LIFTING SNARES The team removed more snares from the park

30/11/2025

LIFTING SNARES

The team lifted more snares

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

30

Mobile in Tsavo East National Park and where needed most 48


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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

NOVEMBER 2025 REPORT

GALANA ANTI-POACHING TEAM N OV E M B E R 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 24/11/2025 BUSHMEAT POACHING  The Galana Wildlife Conservancy team arrested a man caught with fresh bushmeat and lamping tools

Days on duty:

Patrol areas:

1

Galana Wildlife Conservancy 50


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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SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Report November 2025 by Sheldrick Wildlife Trust - Issuu