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 July 2024. During the month the Jipe and Kwale teams were on annual leave whilst the Tiva, Kenze, Meru, Kulalu, Mukururo, Kapangani, Burra, Kichwa Tembo and Tsavo Mobile teams worked part of the month The rest of the teams were operating fulltime.
MONTH AT A GLANCE:
Kilometres covered on patrol:
24,248
47 Arrests made:
27,678
67 Elephant ivory (kg):
1325 Snares con scated:
ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES
JULY 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. We also 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
JULY 2024
During the month of July the KWS/SWT De-Snaring Units lifted 1325 snares and made 47arrests including 1 elephant poacher, 8 bushmeat poachers, 23 livestock herders, 6 rewood collectors, 1 charcoal burner, 3 loggers, 3 miraa harvesters and 2 intruders. The teams recovered and con scated 10kg of bushmeat along with poaching equipment from bows and poisoned arrows to lamping torches and catapults
During the month, the teams destroyed 13 livestock bomas, 25 charcoal kilns and 6 charcoal camps, and 26 poachers hides/camps 4 elephant carcasses were also discovered and 67kg of ivory was con scated and handed over to KWS for safekeeping
The teams also supported the SWT/KWS Vet Units responding to 4 veterinary treatments involving 2 injured elephants, 1 buffalo and 1 zebra.
TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED
JULY 2024
ARRESTS MADE
JULY 2024
INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS
JULY 2024
KICHWA TEMBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
25/7/2024 CHARCOAL KILN
The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln in the park
31/07/2024 WORLD RANGER DAY
The team participated in World Ranger Day with the support of the Kenya Wildlife Service
Days on duty: Tsavo West NP & where needed most Patrol areas:
BURRA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
21/07/2024 FIREFIGHTING
The Burra team worked through the night ghting a wild re that had gotten out of control in the park
27/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted several snares set by poachers within the conservation area
29/07/2024 ELEPHANT IVORY
The team found a piece of broken elephant ivory most probably broken from an elephants tusk during a ght with another elephant The team handed it to KWS for safekeeping
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Voi & Tsavo East
KULALU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 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:
21/07/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found a charcoal burning site with large piles of illegally logged wood in the park
25/07/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found another logging and charcoal burning site and destroyed it in the hopes of deterring the offenders
27/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHER
The team arrested a bushmeat poacher with fresh meat and poaching paraphernalia
DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team con scated a motorbike loaded with fresh dikdik carcasses sadly the poacher escaped
9/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 3 bushmeat poachers with a bicycle loaded with freshly skinned dikdik carcasses
28/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team apprehended another motorbike loaded with bushmeat trying to escape the park. The poacher abandoned his bike and got away.
30 Days on duty: Galana Ranch and where needed most Patrol areas:
MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
10/07/2024 SHOOTING PLATFORM
The team destroyed a shooting platform built by a poacher in a tree to target large game with poisoned arrows
15/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team collected many snares and bird traps during the month set by bushmeat poachers
26/07/2024 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found an old elephant carcass without any tusks, which could have already been lifted by poachers
MOBILE SOUTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
6/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The Mobile South team lifted snares laid by poachers on wildlife paths
10/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
More snares were lifted during the month
18/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team removed wire snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
YATTA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
23/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted snares set by poachers along wildlife paths
25/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHER
The team arrested a bushmeat poacher in the park with dried bushmeat and poaching tools including arrows
30/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team discovered a recently used bushmeat poachers camp and destroyed it
30 Days on duty: Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East Patrol areas:
CHYULU MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 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:
8/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snares from the forest set by bushmeat poachers
25/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHER
The team apprehended a bushmeat poacher together with the Yatta team
30/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
Snares were lifted throughout the conservation area
Chyulu Hills National Park & Kiboko Ranch Patrol areas:
ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 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
11/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snares laid by poachers along wildlife paths
28/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHER
The team arrested a bushmeat poacher with fresh meat in his homestead bordering the park
30/07/2024 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team helped the KWS/SWT Vet Unit treat an injured elephant
THABANGUNJI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
14/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team found snares set by bushmeat poachers and removed them from the park
22/07/2024 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted livestock from the park
24/07/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park and destroyed it to deter the loggers from returning
MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 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: Chyulu Hills
23/6/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The Mukururo team lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
26/6/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The Mukururo team lifted snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
28/6/2024 FIREWOOD COLLECTION
The team apprehended a group of women in the park collecting rewood
KENZE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
21/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The Kenze team lifted snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Kibwezi Forest
SHOMPOLE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team apprehended a motorbike loaded from fresh dikdik carcasses the poacher sadly escaped
9/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested 3 bushmeat poachers operating in the conservation area with fresh bushmeat and poaching tools
22/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted large snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers
Days on duty: Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo Patrol areas:
CHYULU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/07/2024 MIRAA HARVESTING
The team arrested two women harvesting miraa in the park
26/07/2024 MIRAA HARVESTING
The team arrested another miraa harvester operating in the park
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Chyulu Hills
30
KULALU II ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024
SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
6/07/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a fresh logging site in the park and destroyed it
17/07/2024 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team discovered a fresh elephant carcass, which is believed to have been killed by poachers. The tusks had been taken
18/07/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site and destroyed it
Days on duty: Greater Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
ITHUMBA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
11/07/2024 LIFTNG SNARES
The team lifted snares from the park and rescued a snared dikdik
19/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of snares during the month set by bushmeat poachers on wildlife paths
24/07/2024 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found an old elephant carcass with its tusks in tact. the team handed the ivory over to KWS for safekeeping
30 Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KAJIADO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
8/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of makeshift snares from the conservation area
9/07/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site and destroyed it
23/07/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site and arrested a logger
Days on duty: Kajiado & Arabuko Sokoke Patrol areas:
MERU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
15/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHERS
The team in Meru National Park arrested 2 poachers caught with poisoned arrows and bows and fresh bushmeat
29/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers
31/07/2024 WORLD RANGER DAY
The team attended World Range Day events in Meru National Park
Patrol areas:
Days on duty: Meru National Park
TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
21/07/2024 BROKEN IVORY
The team found pieces of broken ivory, likely broken during a ght with another elephant The team handed them over to KWS
24/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a number of snares from the park during the month
28/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
More small snares were lifted
30 Days on duty: Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
20/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted makeshift snares and bird traps from the park set by bushmeat poachers
28/07/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team apprehended a motorbike loaded with fresh bushmeat and poaching tools The offenders escaped
SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/07/2024 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team helped the Tsavo Vet Unit treat an injured elephant with a snare around its foot
17/07/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team destroyed a charcoal kiln found in the park
30/07/2024 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team supported the Vet Unit once again in searching for and locating an injured elephant
30 Days on duty: Central Tsavo East Patrol areas:
UMBI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
2/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team found and destroyed bird traps set by poachers in the park
26/07/2024 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team found a livestock camp in the park and destroyed it
30/06/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team found and removed wire snares set by bushmeat poachers
Patrol areas:
30 Days on duty: Ithumba, Umbi, Mukomwe & South Kitui
MTITO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
8/07/2024 CHARCOAL CAMP
The team found a large active charcoal camp and destroyed it
22/07/2024 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team helped the Vet Unit dart and treat an injured elephant
30/07/2024 FIREFIGHTING
The team fought a bush re in the park
Days on duty: Tsavo East National Park Patrol areas:
TSAVO MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
JULY 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
24/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The Tsavo Mobile team removed large snares from the conservation area
24/07/2024 ELEPHANT CARCASS
An old carcass of a young elephant was discovered, which was believed to have died from natural causes
31/07/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team found more snares in the park
12 Days on duty: Mobile in Tsavo East National Park and where needed most 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
