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.
On August 30, WildlifeDirect hosted Richard Turere and Tiassa Mutunkei, two amazing youth who represent the younger generation in Kenya that are passionate about conserving our wildlife. Over the years, WildlifeDirect has walked with these young wildlife warriors over the years and supported them in their quest to pursue conservation goals and inspire others to follow suit.
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.
On June 23, the Great Grevy's Rally results were released at the Great Grevy's Ball 2018 in Laikipia. Despite many challenges that faced Kenya, Grevy’s zebras have weathered the prolonged drought, increased competition with livestock and increased poaching and disease.
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.
As the first quarter of 2018 comes to a close we reflect on the highs and the lows for conservation. Poaching is down and our court monitoring work reveals greater number of convictions and jail sentencing.
Today is International Women’s Day. We can’t keep complaining about how men treat us when we don’t treat each other fairly, with compassion and empathy. Let’s do something to make it mean something.
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.
Somewhere in Northern Kenya lies a gem. A stunningly beautiful but endangered zebra that many Kenyans have never heard about, let alone seen. This is the story of the Grevy’s zebra. A rare Kenyan heritage that needs to be protected before it goes extinct.
Global March for Elephants, Rhinos and Lions By: Trish Sewe & Wilkister Adema Nairobi-October 9, 2017: On a beautiful Saturday morning of October 7, thousands of marchers streamed in at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi to be part of a worldwide call to action to condemn the poaching of elephants, rhinos and the trafficking of wildlife trophies. The Global March for Elephants, Rhinos and Lions is a global movement, which calls upon governments, the civil society, grass root communities and all stakeholders to be proactive and collaborative in order [...]
