In May, SWT/KWS Anti-Poaching Teams lifted 690 snares and made 35 arrests and cautions including 9 cases of suspected poaching, 7 cases of illegal resource use, 5 cases of illegal entry into a protected area, 5 cases of illegal grazing, 4 cases involving possession of wildlife products, 3 cases of illegal fishing, and 1 case each of suspected illegal logging and other unspecified offences. These figures highlight the broad range of threats being addressed by the teams, with poaching and illegal resource use remaining the most significant drivers of enforcement action.
During the reporting period, the teams also seized 74kg of bushmeat, destroyed 8 charcoal camps and 32 charcoal kilns, and destroyed 8 sacks of charcoal. They also dismantled 9 illegal livestock bomas, seized 43kg of honey, recorded 267 logged trees, and destroyed 31 illegal hides, harbours and camps.
In May, the teams also discovered 1 elephant carcass and handed 67kg of ivory to the KWS for safekeeping. They also supported human-wildlife conflict operations, pushing elephants out of community areas, along with veterinary cases and rescues.