In April, SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams lifted 1,018 snares and made 53 arrests: 17 for bushmeat poaching, 16 for illegal grazing, ten for illegal entry into a protected area, four for illegal logging, two for robbery/theft, two for illegal fishing, and one linked to an illegal miraa plantation.

During the month, the teams also seized 533 kilograms of bushmeat, including one large hippo carcass, destroyed nine illegal harbours/camps, one charcoal camp, 18 kilns, and 25 livestock bomas, and seized 19 kilograms of illegally harvested honey and 250 logged trees.

Teams also discovered an elephant carcass and handed the ivory to KWS for safekeeping. They also supported human-wildlife conflict mitigation operations, pushing elephants out of community areas, and assisted in veterinary cases and animal rescues. Teams in Tsavo have also been actively working with the new SWT/KWS drone teams, which are patrolling the skies over the greater Tsavo Conservation Area night and day.

SWT/KWS Dakadima & Kapangani Anti-Poaching Teams

Date: 10 April 2026

On the night of 9–10 April 2026, Dakadima and Kapangani Teams conducted an ambush operation in Galana Ranch. The operation was successful, intercepting three male suspects engaged in commercial-scale bushmeat poaching using lamping as their method and two motorbikes for transport. The suspects were targeting small and medium game. All three were arrested for bushmeat poaching and handed over to the local authorities for legal processing.

Exhibits recovered: Wildlife trophies consisted of 51 dik-dik carcasses and one gerenuk carcass. Two red Boxer boda bodas (motorbikes) were seized. Poaching tools included three pangas, one slasher, three lamping torches, and two personal torches.

SWT/KWS Chyulu Anti-Poaching Team

Date: 25 April 2026

On 25 April 2026, the Chyulu Team and KWS acted on information of illegal logging activities. The team began a patrol and found fresh logging activity. They tracked the sign, which led them to three separate logging sites. They continued to track and found a fifth site that was the main logging camp. The camp was empty. The team leader made the decision to lay an ambush and wait for the suspects to return. After a short time, three suspects drove into the camp on a motorbike. Before the suspects had any idea what was going on, the team leader sprang the ambush and successfully detained the group. The camp contained a cooking area, a sleeping area, and a timber processing area. It was destroyed, equipment seized, and the three suspects arrested for illegal logging and handed over to the local authorities for legal processing.

Exhibits recovered: Natural resources seized comprised 12 pieces of timber. One red Honda boda boda (motorbike) was seized. Logging tools included two pangas, one chainsaw, and one mobile phone. Other items seized were two spanners, five Allen keys, one tape measure, two sharpening files, three litres of petrol, one litre of oil, and three water jerricans.

SWT/KWS Sobo Anti-Poaching Team

Date: 18 April 2026

A community member walking near the Devki Steel site in the Manga area discovered a foal zebra that had fallen into a pit. He promptly contacted Dr Limo from the Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit to assist with the rescue.

Dr Limo alerted the SWT Ops Room, which immediately relayed the information to the Sobo Team. The team quickly responded to the scene to ascertain the situation and secure the area while awaiting the doctor's arrival. Upon reaching the site, Dr Limo successfully darted the foal, descended into the pit — 10 ft deep — and with the help of the team, safely rescued the foal.

Following the rescue, a search was conducted among two nearby zebra herds, and the foal was eventually reunited with its mother.