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 2024. During the month the Ithumba, Meru and Kajiado teams were on annual leave whilst the Ziwani, Mtito, Mobile South and Thabagunji teams worked part of the month The rest of the teams were operating fulltime.
MONTH AT A GLANCE:
Kilometres covered on patrol:
44,530
41 Arrests made:
27,678
100 Elephant ivory con scated (kg):
1262 Snares con scated:
ANTI-POACHING PATROL ROUTES
DECEMBER 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 have 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
DECEMBER 2024
During December the KWS/SWT De-Snaring Units lifted 1262 snares and made 41 arrests including 3 arrests for poaching activities and 2 for possession of bushmeat, 6 livestock herders, 7 loggers, 9 miraa harvesters, 1 rewood collector, 1 miner and 12 arrests made for illegal entry into the parks. Bushmeat con scated from poachers and camps totaled 46kg including bushbuck, gazelle, zebra and dikdik meat along with the carcasses of birds and sh.
During the month, the teams destroyed 25 charcoal kilns and 3 charcoal camps, including 4 charcoal sacks, along with several harbors/hides/camps used by offenders in the parks
In December the teams also discovered 4 elephant carcasses and handed over 100kg of ivory to the KWS.
TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED
DECEMBER 2024
ARRESTS MADE
DECEMBER 2024
INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS
DECEMBER 2024
KICHWA TEMBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMEBR 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
10/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted large snares from the conservation area, which had been set by bushmeat poachers
13/12/2024 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted livestock from the park
28/12/2024 ILLEGAL CAMP
The team found and destroyed a camp in the park, likely made by charcoal burners
BURRA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
3/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snares from the conservation area, which had been set by bushmeat poachers
6/12/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln in the park
16/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team found more small snares in the park set to catch small wild animals like dikdik
30 Days on duty: Voi & Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KULALU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
20/12/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln in the conservation area
29/12/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found another live charcoal kiln and destroyed it
30 Days on duty:
Patrol areas:
Border of Southern Tsavo East within
Kulalu & Galana
Ranches
DAKADIMA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
4/12/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team apprehended a logger with a consignment of logged wood post
24/12/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a logging site in the park and con scated the logs to stop the loggers from returning
29/12/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found an active charcoal kiln in the park and destroyed it
30 Days on duty: Galana Ranch and where needed most Patrol areas:
MOBILE NORTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
Days on duty:
10/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small wire snares set by bushmeat poachers in the park
11/12/2024 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team discovered a fresh elephant carcass, which is believed to have died from natural causes
31/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
Snares were lifted from the park , which had been set by poachers to trap small wild animals
MOBILE SOUTH ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
26/12/2024 ILLEGAL
FISHING
The Mobile South team recorded illegal shing in the park, but the offenders escaped
18 Days on duty: Fully Mobile in Southern Tsavo Conservation Area Patrol areas:
LAKE JIPE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
8/12/2024 ILLEGAL LIVESTOCK
The team rounded up a herd of cattle found grazing in the conservation area for KWS to deal with
20/12/2024 ILLEGAL LIVESTOCK
The team found more livestock grazing in the protected areas
23/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team found large wire snares set by bushmeat poachers to trap wild animals
Days on duty: Lake Jipe & where needed most Patrol areas:
YATTA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
11/12/2024
ILLEGAL ENTRY
The team apprehended a man found wondering in the park The intruder did not have any tools in his possession and was let go
30 Days on duty: Yatta Plateau, Tsavo East Patrol areas:
CHYULU MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
19/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team removed snares set by bushmeat poachers along wildlife paths
21/12/2024 ILLEGAL CAMPSITE
The team found a recently used campsite in the park and destroyed it
30 Days on duty: Chyulu Hills National Park & Kiboko Ranch Patrol areas:
ZIWANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
Days on duty: Tsavo West Patrol areas:
20/12/2024 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team found a camp and large head of livestock in the park The team evicted the livestock and destroyed the herders camp
22/12/2024 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted another large head of cattle from the park
29/12/2024 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted yet another herd of livestock found being grazed illegally by herders in the park
THABANGUNJI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/12/2024
DAILY PATROLS
The team continued with daily patrols for 18 days during the month and didn't come across any illegal activities
MUKURURO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
22/12/2024 ILLEGAL CAMP
The Mukururo team found a makeshift camp in the conservation area, most likely built by livestock herders, and destroyed it
Days on duty: Chyulu Hills Patrol areas:
KENZE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
10/12/2024
LIVESTOCK CAMPSITE
The Kenze team found an illegal campsite and livestock enclosure in the park and destroyed it
16/12/2024
LOGGING AND FIREWOOD
The team found a pile of logged wood in the park, but down by loggers and rewood collectors
30 Days on duty: Kibwezi Forest Patrol areas:
SHOMPOLE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
9/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team found large wire snares set by bushmeat poachers and a snared buffalo carcass
12/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a large number of snares from the conservation area this month including large wire snares and cables to trap large animals
14/12/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found an active charcoal kiln and camp and destroyed it. the charcoal burners escaped the scene
Days on duty: Shompole & Mobile in Tsavo Patrol areas:
CHYULU ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/12/2024 MIRAA HARVESTING
The team arrested several miraa harvesters during the month and con scated sacks of fresh miraa leaves
20/12/2024 MIRAA HARVESTING
The team apprehended a gang on harvesters found camping in the park. They were harvesting miraa and logging
Days on duty: Chyulu Hills Patrol areas:
31/12/2024 MIRAA HARVESTING
The team arrested yet another miraa harvester caught with a sack of fresh miraa leaves
KULALU II ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
7/12/2024 ILLEGAL LOGGING
The team found a recently active logging site and camp and destroyed it
11/12/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team arrested a bushmeat poacher with some wire snares
27/12/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln in the park
Days on duty: Greater Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
TIVA ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 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:
2/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team found snares set by poachers in the park
14/12/2024 POACHERS CAMP
The team found a poachers camp with an abandoned spear, poisoned arrows and snares
31/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted many small snares from the park during the month.
Northern Area of Tsavo East Patrol areas:
KAPANGANI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
8/12/2024 LIVESTOCK INTRUSION
The team evicted a large herd of livestock from the park and cautioned the herders
28/12/2024 BUSHMEAT POACHING
The team caught a man in the park with bushmeat and poaching tools
Days on duty: Galana Conservation Area Patrol areas:
KWALE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
15/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a large number of snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers to trap small game
28/12/2024
ILLEGAL LOGGING AND FIREWOOD
The team found signs of illegal logging in the park and collected bundles of rewood
30/12/2024
LIFTING SNARES
The team found large wire snares set to trap large mammals
30 Days on duty: Shimba Hills National Reserve Patrol areas:
SOBO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
5/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small and large snares from the park, which had been set by bushmeat paochers
8/12/2024 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team discovered an old elephant carcass with its tusks still intact. The tusks were handed to KWS for safekeeping
23/12/2024 ELEPHANT TREATMENT
The team supported the Tsavo Vet Unit in treating an injured elephant, which sadly did not survive its injuries
Days on duty: Central Tsavo East Patrol areas:
UMBI ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
13/12/2024 CHARCOAL BURNING
The team found and destroyed an active charcoal kiln
22/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted small snares from the park set by bushmeat poachers
28/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted more small snares from the park
MTITO ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 2024 SUMMARY OF SECURITY INCIDENTS
The following cases are just a few of the incidents attended to by this team during the month
22/12/2024 FIREFIGHTING
The team fought a re at the side of the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, which was set accidentally by a lorry catching on re
23/12/2024 ELEPHANT CARCASS
The team found an old elephant carcass in the park with its tusks in tact. it is presumed to have died from natural causes. The tusks were handed over to KWS
Days on duty: Tsavo East National Park Patrol areas:
TSAVO MOBILE ANTI-POACHING TEAM
DECEMBER 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:
2/12/2024 LIFTING SNARES
The Tsavo Mobile team lifted small snares set by poachers in the park
17/12/2024
LIFTING SNARES
The team removed more snares from the park
19/12/2024
LIFTING SNARES
The team lifted a variety of snares from the park
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
