SWT/KWS Sky Vets Report | October 2025 - January 2026

Published on the 15th of February, 2026

During October 2025 to January 2026 the SWT/KWS Sky Vet program was called to handle 19 wildlife cases involving 15 elephants, a lion, a zebra, a giraffe and a buffalo.

The cases involved chartered flights but primarily dispatched the SWT helicopters and fixed wing aircrafts to Tsavo, Chyulus, Amboseli, Lamu and Arabuko Sokoke Forest (North coast).

Out of the 19 cases, 9 were related to poaching involving 8 elephants and 1 giraffe, as well as 3 for human-wildlife conflict (HWC), 6 for natural causes and 1 elephant calf rescue. The human-wildlife cases involved the relocation of 2 elephant bulls that were at risk and also posed a risk to people due to close proximity to local communities. One zebra was also treated for machete injuries also attributed to HWC.

The poaching cases included 2 elephants and 1 giraffe with snare injuries 2 elephants with spear injuries, 2 with arrow injuries, 1 with a bullet wound injury and 1 with a spike to the foot injury. The two elephants with spear injuries had a guarded prognosis and the young elephant with a snare injury was relocated to the Kaluku nursery. The rest were all given a good prognosis for a full recovery.

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