S H E L D R I C K W I L D L I F E T R U S T A N T I - P O A C H I N G T E A M S OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE APRIL 2024 REPORT
APRIL 2024
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 eld operations
This report details all Anti-Poaching Unit activities for April 2024. During the month, the Burra, Kulalu and Kichwa Tembo teams were on annual leave whilst the Kenze, Jipe, Mukururo, Kapangani, Kwale, Tiva teams worked part of the month The rest of the teams were operating full-time.
MONTH AT A GLANCE:
Kilometres covered on patrol:
16,133
57 Arrests made:
27,678
119 Ivory found (kgs):
748 Snares con scated:
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ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES
APRIL 2024
We currently operate 28 Anti-Poaching Teams with the KWS throughout Kenya. 22 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 2 teams based in the Mau Forest, an important water catchment area in the Rift Valley. In 2023, we 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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ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES LOG
APRIL
2024
In April, the teams lifted 748 snares and made 57 arrests including 1 bushmeat poacher, 16 livestock herders, 3 loggers, 7 shmen, 47 miraa harvesters, 21 charcoal burners, 1 grass harvester, and 1 trespasser The teams also con scated rewood, logged posts and timber, 49 charcoal sacks, 16 sacks or harvested miraa, and con scated a consignment of sh.
During the month, the teams destroyed 11 livestock bomas, 50 active charcoal kilns, 9 charcoal camps, and 12 hides/camps 3 elephant carcasses were also discovered, with tusks weighing a combined 119 kilograms of ivory, which was handed over to KWS for safekeeping.
The teams also supported the SWT/KWS Vet Units in 2 veterinary interventions, including an injured zebra with a young calf and the rescue of an elephant trapped in mud.
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TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED
APRIL 2024
ARRESTS MADE
APRIL 2024
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INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS
APRIL 2024
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DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
22/04/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging and rewood collection site in the Chyulu Hills
30 Days on duty: Galana Ranch and where needed most Patrol areas:
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6
7
MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of small wire snares set along wildlife paths by bushmeat poachers
28/04/2024 CHARCOAL SITEAND ARRESTS
The team found active charcoal kilns and campsite in the park and destroyed it. They also arrested a large group of charcoal burners
29/04/2024 CHARCOAL KILN
More active kilns were found and destroyed in the area
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Days on duty: Fully Mobile in Northern Tsavo Conservation Area Patrol areas:
8
9
MOBILE SOUTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
6/4/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The Mobile South team found a logging site and destroyed it
14/4/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found an active charcoal kiln and destroyed it
30 Days on duty: Fully Mobile in Southern Tsavo Conservation Area Patrol areas:
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10
11
LAKE JIPE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
22/04/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found a charcoal kiln and destroyed it
23/04/2024 ILLEGAL CAMPSITES
The team found several recently used campsites in the park used by people illegally entering the park
26/04/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team found a poached zebra carcass. the meat had already been taken by poachers
Days on duty: Lake Jipe & where needed most Patrol areas:
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YATTA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
4/04/2024 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found an fresh elephant carcass - the reason for its death unknown - and removed its large tusks to handover to KWS for safekeeping
29/04/2024 FIREFIGHTING
The team fought a large re in the park believed to have been started by livestock herders
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East
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15
CHYULU MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
8/4/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team removed small snares set within the forest by bushmeat poachers
11/4/2024 CANNABIS PLANTATION
The team found and destroyed a small cannabis plantation in the forest
12/4/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the forest
30 Days on duty: Chyulu Hills National Park & Kiboko Ranch Patrol areas:
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ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Tsavo West
2/4/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln
12/04/2024 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team rescued an injured elephant trapped in mud
25/04/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln found in the park
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30
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THABANGUNJI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
18/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team found a number of small wire snares set by bushmeat poachers and removed them from the park
24/04/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site and destroyed it
27/04/2024 ELEPHANT COLLAR
A lost elephant collar was found and returned to the KWS, after it had broken and fallen off a tracked elephant
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Days on duty: Galana Conservancy & Thabangunji Patrol areas:
20
21
MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
22/4/2024
THEFT
The Mukururo team found an abandoned bag of tools and what is believed to be some stolen equipment in the park The items were handed over to the police
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Chyulu Hills
12
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23
KENZE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
1/04/2024
DAILY PATROLS
The Kenze team worked part of the month and didn't nd any illegal activities
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Kibwezi Forest
12
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SHOMPOLE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
15/04/2024 ILLEGAL FISHING
The team arrested 3 men caught shing in the conservation area
18/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team removed wire snares set by poachers
20/04/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found a charcoal kiln and destroyed it
30 Days on duty: Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo Patrol areas:
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26
27
CHYULU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/04/2024 CAMPSITE
The team found a recently used campsite in a cave in the park They destroyed the camp
8/04/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team arrested a logger found cutting poles in the park
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Chyulu Hills
13/04/2024 MIRAA HARVESTERS
A group of miraa harvesters were arrested in the park with sacks of fresh miraa
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28
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KULALU II ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
12/04/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln in the park
24/04/2024 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found the carcass on an infant elephant, which was believed to have died from natural causes
26/04/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found another active charcoal kiln and destroyed it to prevent the charcoal burners returning to collect the charcoal
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Days on duty: Greater Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
30
31
ITHUMBA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
1/04/2024 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team discovered a fresh elephant carcass believed to have died from natural causes and removed its tusks to handover to KWS for safekeeping
17/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of snares during the month set by bushmeat poachers on wildlife paths
28/04/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team ambushed a large charcoal burning camp and arrested a gang of charcoal burners
30 Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
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KAJIADO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/04/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging camp in the park and destroyed it
11/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team removed small snares set by bushmeat poachers
19/04/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site and destroyed an active charcoal kiln
Days on duty: Kajiado & Arabuko Sokoke Patrol areas:
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30
34
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MERU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team in Meru National Park lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers
8/04/2024 ELEPHANT POACHER
The team ambushed and arrested an elephant poacher operating in the park with poisoned arrows and a bow
20/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
More snares were lifted from the Kimeramba area in the park
30 Days on duty: Meru National Park Patrol areas:
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36
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TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
27/04/2024 IVORY POACHER
The team arrested a poacher with an ivory tusk in his homestead near the park
28/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of small wire snares from the park during the month
29/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team found more snares set by bushmeat poachers operating in the area
Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
Northern Area of Tsavo East
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12
38
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KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
01/04/2024
DAILY PATROLS
The team worked part of the month but due to an issue with their camera they were unable to share photos
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Galana Conservation Area
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40
41
KWALE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
20/04/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team arrested a man found logging in the park
28/04/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a large logging site in the park and destroyed it
29/04/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found another logging site and shut it down
Days on duty: Shimba Hills National Reserve Patrol areas:
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43
SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted wire snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
7/04/2024 ZEBRA TREATMENT
The team helped the Vet Unit treat an injured zebra with a young calf
28/04/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found several charcoal kilns and camps during the month and destroyed them to stop the charcoal gangs selling the charcoal
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Central Tsavo East
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30
44
45
UMBI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snared found along wildlife paths
27/04/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
Several charcoal burning camps and killed were found during the month and destroyed
28/04/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed another charcoal kiln
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Ithumba, Umbi, Mukomwe & South Kitui
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MTITO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
APRIL 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
16/04/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln
17/04/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
19/04/2024 ILLEGAL CAMPSITE
The team found a recently used camp/ re in the park
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Tsavo East National Park
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30
48
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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
©
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2024
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
