Laboratory Will Net Bushmeat Trade

The Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) has identified four notorious hotspot areas for bush meat trade in the
country. KWS spokesperson Mr. Paul Mbugua said Kajiado, Naivasha, Narok and Tsavo are leading in bushmeat trade.

“Kajiado, Naivasha and Narok are some of the areas where we are facing a serious challenge of bush meat trade. These are the areas that supply Nairobi City. We have also identified that most of the meat from wildlife that is killed in Tsavos is sold at Chakama," Mr Mbugua said.

Cautioning the public against buying bushmeat from unauthorised dealers, Mbugua said the meat is unfit for human consumption.

“The slaughtering is done in very dirty environments and the meat poses serious risks. In most cases
people have ended up eating baboons, hyenas and even dogs that are disguised as bush meat,” he said.

KWS has recently constructed a world class forensic laboratory that will bridge the gap between conservation genetics and law enforcement. In the past, several arrested suspects found with the meat have been released by the Courts because KWS didn`t have a laboratory to prove whether the meat is from wildlife or not.

Today, with the successful fundraising campaigns to equip the already newly constructed forensic lab, such wildlife crimes will be netted.

“By the end of this month we are optimistic that the forensic lab will be officially opened,” Mr. Mbugua emphasized.

In picture: Commercial and unsustainable hunting of dikdiks is causing a widespread of local extinctions in and around Kenya National Parks.