Anti-Poaching
Deploying boots on the ground for the protection of elephants, rhinos and other wild species
We currently operate sixteen Anti-Poaching Teams in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and fund two more teams operated by Mara Elephant Project (MEP) in the Mau Forest, undertaking anti-poaching operations to protect threatened wild animals and habitats in areas of natural importance within Kenya.
Ivory and rhino horn poaching, habitat destruction and bushmeat poaching are having a devastating effect on Africa’s wildlife and wild spaces. Our skilled front line teams, accompanied by armed KWS Rangers and supported by our Aerial and Canine Units, are fully trained and equipped to deter and prevent illegal wildlife activities, as well as launch ambushes, with any necessary arrests carried out by KWS.
18
Mobile Teams
50,977
KMs patrolled on foot in 2020
9,067
Snares recovered & destroyed in 2020
189
KWS arrests with our teams in 2020
131
Weapons seized in 2020
Patrol Areas
Tsavo, Chyulus, Meru, Kibwezi and Mau Forests
Support our Anti-Poaching Operations
Threats Tackled by our Teams
- Elephant and rhino poaching for ivory and rhino horn.
- Snaring and bushmeat poaching for commercial trade.
- Illegal logging of forested areas and charcoal burning.
- Livestock intrusion.
Our teams face real threats to their own safety on every operation. Team members have all undergone intensive training at the KWS Manyani Training Academy to ensure they have the skills and knowledge necessary to mitigate these risks. Highly trained, armed KWS Rangers - with the power of arrest - are assigned to each of the teams on operational duty.
Fifteen of our teams patrol the Greater Tsavo Conservation Area covering 60,000km2, an area the size of West Virginia, USA. Home to the country’s largest elephant herds, as well as rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, lions and leopards. A Sixteenth Team operates in Meru National Park, in Central Kenya, which covers an area of 870km2, with the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Teams, fully funded by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, operating in the Mau Forest under the direction of MEP.
Areas we cover in Kenya
Mtito
Ithumba
Tiva
Burra
Ziwani
Chyulu
Chyulu Mobile
Kenze
Yatta
Mobile North
Meru
Sobo
Mobile South
Shompole
- Team Name
- Mtito
- Team Leader
- Kiperus Singanga
- How many rangers?
- 6 (Plus 2 KWS uniformed/arresting officers)
- Area of operation
- The Triangle - Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks
- View Reports
- Team photo
Each team is equipped with a modified 4x4 vehicle, camping equipment, digital radios, GPS units and cameras as well as all necessary equipment and supplies to patrol daily and spend long periods in the field. Their activities are coordinated by our 24 hour Operations Centre in Kaluku, which monitors all ground and air operations in order to ensure the safety of our personnel, identify key trends to direct future patrols and coordinate a swift and effective response to any incidents.
Photos from the field
Extensive training means each team has deep local knowledge and each ranger has graduated from the KWS law enforcement academy in Manyani, with training in mitigating human wildlife conflict, ecosystem management, field survival, weaponry use, and capture and arrest.
Read the latest Monthly Reports from our De-Snaring Teams
Support our Conservation Projects
Help our teams as they work on the front line to protect wildlife and wild spaces
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