Press Releases
WildlifeDirect calls on South Africans to overturn the amendment to the Animal Improvement Act (AIA) that has categorized selected endangered species as farmed animals
WildlifeDirect strongly opposes the legislative move by South Africa to list endangered species as farmed animals – although we recognise South Africa’s sovereign right, this is an abuse of a global natural resources.
Disheartening news as iconic bull elephant meets untimely death at an abandoned septic tank in Samburu
It is with a heavy heart that we learnt about the death of Teresai, a spectacular and famous bull elephant in Samburu. Teresai, aged 41 was found dead on September 18 after falling into an abandoned septic tank at the ruins of the former Serena Safari Lodge located on the edge of Buffalo Springs National Reserve.
WildlifeDirect Launches Snakebite Awareness Essay Competition for Kenyan Primary Schools
To mark this year’s International Snakebite Awareness Day that is celebrated on 19th September, WildlifeDirect is delighted to launch its first Essay Competition targeting primary schools in Kenya.
Law enforcement officers sentenced to life imprisonment for poaching
Four Administration Police Officers were last week convicted to life imprisonment or pay a fine of not less than 20 million shillings ($200,000) each for being in possession of a wildlife trophy without a permit.
WildlifeDirect opposes the lifting of Hunting Ban in Botswana
WildlifeDirect does not support the reversal of the Hunting ban in Botswana though we recognize that it is their so sovereign right to manage elephants domestically.
Thousands of Kenyans March for Wildlife
Thousands of people from all walks of life today joined conservation partners and the government to raise their voices against extinction and champion the protection of wildlife in what is considered to be the biggest Global March For Elephants, Rhinos, Lions and other endangered species. Global March is an annual worldwide event that takes place in more than 130 countries - including Kenya - which hosted the largest march in the world in 2017.
Wildlife Warriors, New TV Series, Celebrates African Conservation Heroes
A new weekly series called Wildlife Warriors will premiere on East Africa’s largest channel, Citizen TV, on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 5PM. Development of this series was funded by the U.S. Government, through USAID, in partnership with U.S. Department of the Interior, Wild Lives Foundation, and National Geographic.
Tanzania court sentence ‘Ivory Queen’ to 15 years in jail
A Tanzanian court has sentenced Yang Fen Glan popularly known as ‘Ivory Queen’ to 15 years in jail. The 69 year old Chinese national, was charged along with two Tanzanians with offenses of unlawful dealing in collecting, selling and transporting more than 706 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 1889 kilograms in 2014.
WildlifeDirect announces the release of a new report showcasing the state of wildlife crime cases in Kenya
WildlifeDirect announces the release of a new report showcasing the state of wildlife crime cases in Kenya. WildlifeDirect has been monitoring wildlife crime cases in Kenyan courts since 2008. Through Eyes in the Courtroom project; we provide the only nation-wide publicly available review of Kenya’s wildlife law enforcement response.
Court sets free convicted ivory trafficker Feisal Mohamed Ali
Today the Kenyan Criminal Justice system failed. Feisal Mohamed Ali who was convicted of trafficking in illegal elephant tusks today walks free. In July 2016, Feisal was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and fined of 20 million shillings for trafficking in 2,152 kilograms of elephant ivory. Feisal’s case began in December 2014 after he apprehended in Tanzania through an INTERPOL led swoop. At this time Feisal was the most wanted ivory trafficker in the world with Interpol giving a red notice against him.
Kenyan raptor biologist awarded at Whitley Awards 2018
WildlifeDirect wishes to congratulate Munir Virani, the Vice President at The Peregrine Fund who was on April 25 awarded the prestigious Whitley Award by HRH The Princess Royal. Munir is a Kenyan raptor biologist devoted to conserving one of the most threatened groups of birds on the planet. He works to preserve Kenya’s endangered vultures in Africa’s Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. He first began his project in 2003 following the Asian Vulture Crisis which saw 40 million vultures poisoned across South Asia, as a result of a now banned painkiller and anti-inflammatory drug used in cattle.
Statement on the murder of Esmond Bradley Martin
It is with deep shock and horror that WildlifeDirect has learnt about the murder of Esmond Bradley Martin on Sunday, 4 February 2018 around 4PM at his house in Langata, Nairobi. We had interacted closely with Esmond on matters to do with ivory trafficking and he always kept us updated on his ivory trade research around the world.