Ivory Smugglers Arrested in Nairobi

Three smugglers were early Tuesday (December 30th 2014) nabbed by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Security personnel ferrying four pieces of ivory weighing fourteen kilogrammes. 

The three were  arrested at Kayole junction along Nairobi’s kangundo road ferrying the contraband ivory on a motorbike.

The suspects were remanded at the Langata police station awaiting appearance in court to answer to charges of illegal possession and trafficking of wildlife trophy.

Meanwhile KWS security operation team in Tsavo West National Park has arrested eighteen herdsmen for illegal livestock grazing in the park. The herdsmen have been remanded at the Taita Taveta police station and are due to be aligned in court for illegal grazing in a protected area.

 Livestock incursion in Kenya’s National Parks and Reserves is one of the major threats to wildlife conservation. The livestock deplete food and water resources for wildlife and poachers take advantage of these incursions by posing as herdsmen. Besides, livestock intruding the protected areas pose the danger of spreading diseases.

2014 Conservation Heroes Day Celebrations

Kenya Wildlife Service Director General, Mr. William Kiprono
gives his speech during the 2014 Heroes Day that is commemorated on 
16th December every year to pay tribute to conservation heroes.

Environment, Water and Natural Resources Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Judi Wakhungu says her ministry acknowledges the magnitude of the challenges facing Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other partners in conserving key species, especially rhinos and elephants.

“We are aware that wildlife security threat is a global phenomenon that has largely been driven by the high demand for ivory and rhino horn in many parts of the world. I am happy that key species poaching is now largely under control compared to past levels”, Prof. Wakhungu said during the annual KWS Heroes Day that is commemorated on every 16th of December.

In a speech read on her behalf by Conservation Secretary, Mr. Gideon Gathara at KWS headquarters in Nairobi, Prof. Wakhungu congratulate KWS rangers for the good work they are doing albeit difficult circumstances.

“I encourage you to maintain your patriotism in guarding the country’s natural heritage in the spirit of selfless service to our motherland”, Prof Wakhungu said.

She told Kenyans to remain alive to the fact that wildlife crimes particularly those involving charismatic species such as rhinos and elephants are not the only challenge facing conservation efforts.

“We are grappling with habitat loss, climate change, deforestation, invasive species in our wildlife protected areas, bio-piracy, incompatible land uses, high population growth, diseases and dwindling revenue for conservation” , She said.

The Cabinet Secretary thanked conservation partners in the wildlife sector for continued support. She cited some of the partners for special mention including United Kingdom Government, French Government through French Development Agency (AFD), USA government, German Government and its agencies, Chinese government, Canadian Government through Parks Canada, and a host of other local and international partners and the media.

In his speech, KWS Director General, William Kiprono reiterated the organisation’s unwavering support to the families of conservation heroes killed in line of duty. “I am sending an appeal to conservation partners to come forward and augment the assistance currently being extended to these families”, Mr. Kiprono said.

He thanked well wishers who have extended assistance to families of fallen heroes and singled out for special mention Germany NGO, International Foundation for Nature (NABU) for continued aid to families of departed officers.

Through a memorandum of understanding between NABU and KWS, the NGO has released 8000 Euros, which has already been disbursed to their families. NABU is also in the process of disbursing additional funding to support the families next year.

2nd Legal Standards Workshop Concludes

William M. Narus, Resident Legal Advisor -
U.S. Department of Justice - Nairobi gives his
presentation on Building a Strong Foundation for Cases. 

DNA Evidence has proved a valuable forensic tool in criminal investigations and court cases involving wildlife. Wildlife forensic science applies a range of scientific disciplines to legal cases involving non-human biological evidence. These disciplines include genetics, morphology, chemistry, pathology, and veterinary sciences. Advances in science have made it possible to use DNA analysis for the examination of evidence for a variety of legal issues involving wild animals. The resultant analysis can be used as evidence in the pursuit of criminal prosecution for the case.

Dr. Beatrice Khayota, Principal Research Scientist

 National Museums of Kenya, and Co-Chair of 

Barcode of Wildlife Project Kenya 

gives her remarks.

Due to the fact that wildlife crimes are strict liability crimes, the standard of proof is lowered compared to penal crimes because the prosecution does not have to prove the criminal intent of the accused person. In criminal cases the burden of proof for forensic evidence is the prosecution relying on the evidence meaning that all procedural aspects relating to that evidence must be followed to avoid any doubt being raised as to the credibility of that evidence.

Mr Patrick Omondi KWS Deputy Director for Species 
Conservation and Management, and Co-Chair of 
Barcode of Wildlife Project Kenya gives his remarks.

This second Legal Standards Workshop objectives were to produce revised legal standards and procedures for the collection, processing and analysis of samples for creation of the DNA Library, and come up with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be used by law enforcement officers in the collection, documentation, management and processing of samples taken from crime scenes. The workshop was planned to design sampling kits for use in collecting biological samples from crime scenes for subsequent DNA analysis, draft a curriculum for the training of Kenya Wildlife Service rangers in the use of the SOPs and sampling kits, as well as drafting a curriculum for the training of prosecutors in the use of DNA barcode evidence in prosecution of wildlife crimes.

During Legal Standards presentation.

Some of the main goals for Barcode of Wildlife Project (BWP) is to generate a reference library with over 50,000 high-quality BARCODE records, demonstrate effectiveness of the library for investigation and prosecution, and adopt and support the system long-term.

Now in Phase 3 of the project, it revolves building and testing the BARCODE Reference Library and training crime investigators, expert witnesses, prosecutors and magistrates before the final and full implementation in Phase 4.

The 1^st Legal Standards Workshop

Participants formulate SOPs to be 

used by law enforcement officers.

Barcode of wildlife Project Kenya National Project Committee held a legal standards workshop on ‘Legal Standards and Admissibility of DNA Barcode Evidence’, at Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute (KWSTI) on Monday 19^th August 2013, with participants been drawn from various agencies.

The intention of the 1^st Workshop were to clarify legal issues when collecting samples, adjustments in sampling analysis and chain of custody, stipulate action items leading to standard operation procedures (SOPs), and form working groups for the just concluding phase 2 of the project.

Ettah Muango  KWS Legal Officer
leads participants on the way forward.

It is this workshop came up with legal standards. During collection of samples, scientific standards would suffice.  The chain of custody adopted should show that the item in question is same one collected and that it should be stored in a secure place.  Chain of custody forms should be developed and used for this purpose. 

1^st Workshop noted that the biology of forensic science involves several disciplines and morphology, hence pathology and genetics can be used to identify species for purposes of creating the library. Last but not least, the forensic laboratory should be recognized under the law and forensic experts gazetted as government experts.

Kenya Hold its Second Legal Standards Training

Official opening of the training by Mr Patrick Omondi 
KWS Deputy Director for Species Conservation and Management, 
and Co-Chair of Barcode of Wildlife Project Kenya.

For the second time Kenya is holding a legal standards training that has brought together legal minds, scientists and law enforcement officers from different government agencies.

DNA evidence can be an invaluable tool for identifying and holding perpetrators accountable because it can provide critical information about the offender as well as verify the survivor’s account of what happened during the incident.

To maintain chain of custody, you must preserve evidence from the time it is collected to the time it is presented in court. To prove the chain of custody, and ultimately show that the evidence has remained intact, prosecutors generally need service providers who can testify:

•          That the evidence offered in court is the same evidence they collected or received.
•       To the time and date the evidence was received or transferred to another provider.
•        That there was no tampering with the item while it was in custody.

A presentation by Bill Clark, Chief of Interpol Wildlife Crimes unit

A challenge in proving chain of custody can arise when service providers fail to properly initial and date the evidence or fail to place a case number with it.

A sufficient chain-of-custody process, that is, one that provides sufficient evidence of sample integrity in a legal or regulatory setting, is situationally dependent.

The burden of proof

It’s the imperative on a party in a trial to produce the evidence that will shift the conclusion away from the default position to one's own position. He who does not carry the burden of proof carries the benefit of assumption, meaning he needs no evidence to support his claim. Fulfilling the burden of proof effectively captures the benefit of assumption, passing the burden of proof off to another party.

Ettah Muango KWS Legal Office gives her views on burden of proof

If there is a real doubt, based upon reason and common sense after careful and impartial consideration of all the evidence, or lack of evidence, in a case, then the level of proof has not been met. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt, therefore, is proof of such a convincing character that one would be willing to rely and act upon it without hesitation in the most important of one's own affairs. However, it does not mean an absolute certainty. The standard that must be met by the prosecution's evidence in a criminal prosecution is that no other logical explanation can be derived from the facts except that the defendant committed the crime, thereby overcoming the presumption that a person is innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Legal minds, scientists and enforcement officers discuss 

When evidence can be used in court to convict persons of crimes, it must be handled in a scrupulously careful manner to avoid later allegations of tampering or misconduct which can compromise a case of the prosecution toward acquittal or to overturning a guilty verdict upon appeal. The idea behind recording the chain of custody is to establish that the alleged evidence is in fact related to the alleged crime, rather than having, for example, been planted fraudulently to make someone appear guilty.

Chain of custody in legal contexts therefore, refers to the chronological documentation or paper trail, showing the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of physical or electronic evidence.

Legal minds, scientists and enforcement officers discuss 

Establishing chain of custody is made of both a chronological and logical procedure, especially important when the evidence consists of fungible goods. In practice, this applies to illegal wildlife products which have been seized by law enforcement personnel. In such cases, the defendant at times disclaims any knowledge of possession of the controlled product(s) in question. Accordingly, the chain of custody documentation and testimony is presented by the prosecution to establish that the product(s) in evidence was in fact in the possession of the defendant.

Due to the fact that wildlife crimes are strict liability crimes, the standard of proof is lowered compared to penal crimes because the prosecution does not have to prove the criminal intent of the accused person. In criminal cases, the burden of proof for forensic evidence is the prosecution relying on the evidence meaning that all procedural aspects relating to that evidence must be followed to avoid any doubt being raised in the admissibility of that evidence.

Read the Kenya Defines Legal standards Forensic Evidence

National carrier (KQ) and Born Free Boost the Fight Against Rhino Poaching

Mr. Tim Oloo, Kenya Country Manager, Born Free Foundation hands over Binoculars and GPS equipment for rhino units in Nakuru and Nairobi to Mr. Julius Kimani, KWS Deputy Director Parks and Reserves . Looking on are KQ Customer Service staff.

National carrier, Kenya Airways and international wildlife charity Born Free Foundation have boosted the fight against rhino poaching in Kenya with a donation of surveillance equipment and funds for training to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

The donated equipment include tents, GPS trackers and binoculars. This is in addition to a KSh350,000 cheque that will go towards training rangers in the KWS Rhino Monitoring Team.

Speaking during the handover of the equipment and the cheque at KWS Headquarters, Kenya Airways’ Marketing Director Chris Diaz said the donation demonstrated commitment by the airline, and its partner, Born Free Foundation, to support conservation of wildlife.

“The fight against wildlife poaching requires concerted efforts from all of us. This is the reason Kenya Airways has chosen to get involved in supporting KWS to fight this vice through skills improvement and equipment,” Mr Diaz added.

On his part, the Kenya Country Manager of Born Free Foundation, Tim Oloo said: "Working together is the only way to succeed in our joint mission to protect and conserve Kenya's – and indeed the world's– wildlife heritage for future generations. Rhinos are symbolic of that heritage - an ancient species whose current plight is entirely as a result of human greed, superstition and ignorance. It is our responsibility and duty to ensure that this amazing creature is not lost on our watch. That is why, in partnership with our good friends at Kenya Airways, and as part of the “Change Brings Change” programme, we are delighted to be making this strategic contribution to the professional efforts of the dedicated KWS rhino team to enable them to carry out their live-saving job to the very best of their ability”.

The donation was received by Julius Kimani, the deputy director of KWS, who lauded the two organizations for the support.

Mr Kimani added: “This equipment and training for rangers will greatly support the conservation of rhinos, which presently face a huge threat from poachers, who are after their horns. Last year, we lost 59 rhinos to poachers; and 26 rhinos so far this year. This challenge is surmountable with this kind of support from Kenya Airways and the Born Free Foundation”.

Conservation and management strategy for black rhinos in Kenya overall goal is that black rhinos are projected to increase by at least 5% pa to reach a confirmed total of 750 rhinos by end of 2016.

In October 2013, Kenya Airways and the Born Free Foundation unveiled a new initiative to raise funds for wildlife conservation causes throughout the world dubbed ‘Change Brings Change’.

This boost comes at a time when Kenya is holding its second Legal Standards and Forensics workshop aiming to police crimes against wildlife such as poaching. Like the first training, the workshop aims to get a better understanding of the scientific processes that wildlife species' samples have to go through in order to provide a validated outcome for illegal poaching cases in court. The training is from 7th-10th December, 2014.

Project Lion Rover - real hope for lions

Project Lion Rover is part of a new initiative in which Born Free will work with the Kenya Wildlife Service, Land Rover, the local Meru community and others, to do all we can to ensure that lions are free to live and thrive in the Meru Conservation Area (MCA) for generations to come. The project offers real hope for lions in their heartland.

A new era is dawning for Meru National Park thanks to Lion Rover Project’s targeted approach, jointly implemented by Born Free and KWS, supported by Land Rover.

Lions are in the Priority Species list in the Barcode of Wildlife Project. Each Partner Country (Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria and South Africa) in the project has been asked to compile a list of approximately 200 species that are:

• Listed in one of the CITES Appendices which regulates their international trade; 
• Protected by national laws against possessing, killing, selling, and/or trafficking; 
• Endangered by domestic and/or international trade in that country; 
• Encountered by officials responsible for species protection; 
• Are trafficked as parts, products, or immature stages that are hard to identify; 
• Are hard to identify as adult, intact specimens because of their similarity to other species that are not protected; and 
• Are likely to be the basis of criminal investigations and prosecutions. 

The four BWP partner countries have selected 774 priority species for the project.

Kenneth Ochieng, Senior Warden Meru National Park introduces Born Free founder Virginia McKennato Kenya Wildlife Service rangers in Meru National Park

In response to requests from Captain Kenneth Ochieng, KWS Senior Warden Meru National Park, tents, laptops, binoculars, cold weather clothing, cameras and Global Positioning System units (GPS) were bought by Born Free with funds provided by Land Rover. They were recently put into action as part of enhanced anti-poaching activities.

Meru is where George and Joy Adamson famously raised and released Elsa the lioness back to the wild, a story told in the book and subsequent film Born Free.

Meru is beautiful, wild and rugged country. Not for the faint-hearted. Its golden plains, acacia forests and stands of palm are criss-crossed by sparkling rivers that sustain the wildlife of this extraordinary landscape. Meru is the land of the lion. Not only because of Elsa, but it is where George went on to return three lions from the film Born Free, to a life of freedom.

Phase One of Project Lion Rover, supported by Land Rover, involves the purchase and deployment of critically important equipment to the local KWS team charged with the protection of wildlife in the MCA.

This Phase will be followed by a series of coordinated actions under the Lion Rover umbrella including: the establishment of a Born Free de-snaring team; the provision of supplemental fuel for anti-poaching activities; and the development of conflict mitigation strategies with local people (including improved livestock security).

Vitally important for the medium and long-term will be the integration of these efforts into the KWS Large Carnivore Conservation Strategy document (due for revision in 2015).

As part of this effort, Born Free shall be working at the landscape level to support lion population analysis, in conjunction with the locally-based KWS Senior Scientist. This activity will permit KWS to establish credible lion baseline data and to monitor our progress in the months and years to come.

This research will help to: determine how many lions there are and what is happening to their natural prey species; identify conflict hotspots; help focus the KWS anti-poaching effort; determine what we can do to mitigate conflict; pin-point where bushmeat poaching is causing the greatest damage and guide our de-snaring team in their work to reduce its impact.

It will also help us decide how we can bring benefits to the local community, thereby creating an atmosphere of greater tolerance, understanding and respect for wildlife, especially lions.

6th annual Grevy’s Zebra conference

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) recently held the 6th annual Grevy’s Zebra  conference in Nairobi to review measures taken over the last 10 years to stem the decreasing population of the endangered species, whose population has dwindled from 15,000 in the 1970’s to the current 2,800 animals.

The conference brought together researchers and academics from diverse backgrounds who made presentations on recent findings on Grevy’s zebra, particularly on its survival amid a myriad of threats.

Mr Patrick Omondi KWS Deputy Director for Species Conservation and Management, and Chair of Barcode of Wildlife Project Kenya, who opened the conference, asked participants to strive to come up with a clear road map of addressing the threats facing the survival of the endangered species. He cited habitat loss, predation and diseases as the major threats to the survival of the Grevy’s Zebra.

Historically, Grevy’s Zebra were found in Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia with a reported sighting in Sudan. Currently, the species is only found in Kenya and Ethiopia, with Kenya holding 90 percent of the total population.

Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) was listed as Endangered A 2ac, C 2a (i) by the IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group (IUCN, 2003).  Grevy’s zebra is also listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which offers them the highest protection against trade. The population size of Grevy’s zebra has reduced drastically and the species’ natural range has undergone one of the most dramatic constrictions of any animal species in Africa.

The main threats responsible for the decline of the species population are loss of range, hunting, competition with domestic livestock for critical resources, loss of access to critical resources, disease, predation, use of its products for medicinal purposes and drought; particularly in northern Kenya.

Forum addresses wildlife conservation issues

KWS Ag. Director General, Mr. William Kiprono addressing media after the end of a joint forum for Wildlife conservation NGOs at KWS headquarters in Nairobi.

Kenya Wildlife Service recently held a meeting with stakeholders in the wildlife sector to foster a cordial working relationship and share experiences on issues of common concern.  

The sensitisation meeting, attended by over 50 representatives of various wildlife sector NGOs, focused on four thematic areas, namely:

·     Partnership between NGOs and the government in the implementation of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, which came into force on January 10, 2014.

KWS acting Director General, Mr. William Kiprono, who addressed the forum expressed gratitude to the NGOs officials for supporting wildlife conservation efforts; singling out de-snaring, translocation of wildlife, removal of invasive species in protected areas, and resource mobilisation.

Other than poaching, Mr. Kiprono said the country is loosing a lot of animals as a result of unscrupulous traders who are killing animals for bush meat. He blamed the rapid loss of wildlife habitat on the high rate of crimes against wildlife and exhorted the public to join KWS in conserving and addressing issues that affect wildlife. Mr. Kiprono said KWS as the lead conservation body in the country has accurate and up-to-date data concerning wildlife numbers. He asked anybody with enquiries regarding this to contact the Deputy Director in charge of Species Conservation and Management for updated information.

The Director of Wildlife in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Mr. Stephen Manegene, said it was regrettable stakeholders in the wildlife sector are not able to agree on a myriad of issues, including carrying out of wildlife censuses.

He asked NGOs to work closely with KWS and the ministry so that information from the country regarding critical issues of wildlife can be standard, accurate and timely. “Access to information is enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution and the Government will ensure this is enforced by all sectors”, he said.

Mrs Munira Bashir, a representative of one of the NGOs, The Nature Conservancy, said there was an urgent need to put in place subsidiary legislation to operationalize the Wildlife Act. She said stakeholders had identified about 26 guidelines necessary to make the Act operational. She said The Nature Conservancy would spearhead the development of five of the guidelines and called on other organisations to support the rest.

Help Kenya sustain advocacy on total ban on international ivory and rhino horn trade - new envoys urged

Mother and calf elephants in Tsavo West National Park.

Ag. Director General William Kiprono asked the diplomats to help in demand reduction campaign on wildlife and wildlife products. Kenya Wildlife Service has urged 32 newly-appointed ambassadors, high commissioners and heads of missions to help Kenya sustain advocacy on total ban on international ivory and rhino horn trade.

Ivory, rhino horns, reptiles, pangolins, and sandal wood are some of the wildlife and wildlife products being poached and trafficked for international black markets.

While addressing their induction programme at KWS headquarters, Mr Kiprono asked them to use their diplomatic missions to lobby other countries to help reduce the demand for endangered species. 

Africa range states have faced unprecedented poaching in recent past with 302 elephants and 59 rhino poached in year 2013 in Kenya alone.  Since the beginning of the year, 116 elephants and 26 rhinos to poachers has been lost to poachers.

“In the last six months, however, we have turned the corner and the worst is behind us. We hope to keep the poaching cartels on the run and make them face the fullest extent of the law,” he said. He said that the government is fully aware of the magnitude of wildlife crime and has mobilised resources locally and internationally to curb the vice.

Besides poaching, he pointed habitat loss, human wildlife conflict due to growth in human population and climate change as other challenges facing wildlife conservation in the 21st century.

He urged the diplomats to use their missions to encourage international community to invest in conservation areas and assure tourists that Kenya’s national parks and the country are safe destinations. 

Among the newly appointed diplomats is former Finance Cabinet Minister Robinson Githae, who becomes the new Kenyan ambassador to the United States while Prof. Sam Ongeri heads to UN Habitat. The envoys were appointed in August 2014.

INTERPOL establishes an environmental crime team for Africa

Illegal Ivory chopped into small pieces for export.

Located within the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for East Africa in Nairobi, the environmental crime team will act as an extension of INTERPOL’s Environmental Security unit located at its General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France. To further support its member countries in the fight against illegal ivory trafficking and other environmental issues, INTERPOL has established a dedicated team to tackle these crimes in Africa. 

As part of the Regional Bureau, the team will collaborate with national law enforcement agencies and INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs) in the region to increase information exchange, support intelligence analysis and assist national and regional investigations, with a particular focus on wildlife crime. 

With the illicit trade in ivory and rhinoceros horn a major concern in East Africa, the team will work with countries and partner organizations to further the activities of INTERPOL’s Project Wisdom, which combats elephant and rhinoceros poaching and the illegal trade in ivory through the financial support of the Wildcat Foundation. This includes capacity building initiatives and creating a regional network for environmental protection.

David Higgins, Head of INTERPOL’s Environmental Security unit, said the establishment of the environmental crime team at the Regional Bureau demonstrates INTERPOL’s dedication to offering the highest level of support to law enforcement in its member countries in disrupting the transnational criminal groups involved not only in wildlife crime, but also other serious forms of crime.

“This initiative will enable INTERPOL, through its Project Wisdom, to provide continuous investigative and analytical support to East African member countries concerning significant transnational wildlife trafficking cases, and to assist with planning operations targeting the organized criminal networks behind these crimes,” said Mr Higgins.

INTERPOL announced the establishment of the environmental crime team during an event hosted by the Australian High Commission in Kenya. Australia is a key partner with INTERPOL in activities to prevent and combat wildlife crime throughout Africa.

“The global fight against illegal trafficking has just been given a significant boost. The new INTERPOL team in Nairobi will mean better intelligence gathering and sharing among the law enforcement community, which is key to shutting down the poachers and smugglers,” said Australian High Commissioner Geoff Tooth.

Following the announcement on 7 October, INTERPOL, with the support of the UK National Crime Agency and UK High Commission, will host an information exchange and analysis workshop in Nairobi to enhance partnerships and information sharing between law enforcement and the private sector.

Donation: KWS receives DNA extraction equipment

Ms. Oriana Zoghbi (L), QIAGEN Business Manager and Commercial Partner – EMEA, hands over a DNA extraction equipment to Ag. Director General Mr. William Kiprono (R) for use at Forensics and Genetic Laboratory at KWS headquarters on Wednesday (September 24, 2014). The machine will be used to help counter poaching and enhancing disease investigation and surveillance among wildlife.

Bio-Zeq Kenya and its partner QIAGEN has donated a DNA extraction equipment - automated nucleic acid extraction machine - to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to help counter poaching and enhancing disease investigation and surveillance among wildlife. 

Poaching is one of the most serious crimes investigated by wildlife forensics. The modern DNA-based molecular methods will aid in the fight against the poaching of endangered and protected species, and in the prevention of cruelty to animals through the new Wildlife Forensic laboratory based at Kenya Wildlife Service.

The DNA extraction equipment will be used in the Forensics and Genetic Laboratory when commissioned later this year. KWS commissioned the construction of the lab at its headquarters in July 2012.

During the handing over ceremony at KWS headquarters on Wednesday (September 24, 2014), Ms. Oriana Zoghbi, QIAGEN Business Manager and Commercial Partner – EMEA, congratulated KWS for the establishment of the forensic laboratory and its efforts to tackle poaching menace.

Ag. Director General Mr. William Kiprono welcomed the donation and said it will go a long way in enhancing prosecution through forensic investigations.

“Wildlife forensics based on DNA analysis will enhance our investigations on wildlife crimes and lead to convictions of offenders,” he said.

Besides, the laboratory shall be undertaking DNA sampling and profiling of poached wildlife and products seizures under the rhinoceros DNA Index system (RhODIS) and other mapping in partnership with University of Pretoria – Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (UP-VGL) with funding from WWF.

Once the forensic laboratory becomes operational, all live rhinos and other species, poached cases and existing stock piles will be profiled within the collaboration framework with UP-VGL.

QIAGEN is a leader in life science technologies and provides automated platforms for high through put for sample processing and analysis. Its technology provides key techniques, for example, automated nucleic acid extraction, pathogen detections, gene expression analysis, genotyping, mutation detection among others.

World Rhino Day dedicated for actions to raise awareness

File picture of poached rhino

Ag. Director General KWS Mr. William Kiprono has advocated for sustained awareness campaigns on the plight of the rhino during a ceremony to mark this year’s World Rhino Day.

In a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Director Species Conservation and Management Mr. Patrick Omondi and Chair of Barcode of Wildlife Project Kenya, Kiprono said that all of the world’s rhino species are under threat, mostly from poaching for their horn.

He also sought application of deterrent severe penalties for poachers and dealers in rhino products to robustly tackle the current high poaching threat to rhinos. 26 rhinos has been poached this year compared to 59 in year 2013.

The horn is mainly used for traditional Eastern medicine. However, rhino horn does not have any proven medicinal properties.

“This day is therefore dedicated for actions and activities to raise awareness and let the world know that we care about the plight of rhinos,” he said.

There is currently an alarming rise in the number of rhino being killed in Africa affecting both the Black Rhinoceros and White Rhinoceros population. The three Asian species, the Greater One-horned rhinoceros, the Sumatran rhinoceros and the Javan rhinoceros are also threatened by habitat destruction. Kiprono said that KWS is committed to combat this vice by modernizing its security operations, systems and troops deployment.

“Will ensure that troops and field operators use modern equipment and embrace the latest and appropriate technology in their day to day operations to stop any further poaching incidences,” he said.

KWS, County governments, private and community sanctuaries have been working together to minimize threats posed to rhinos. Cumulatively, Aberdare’s National Park, Solio, Olpajeta, Oljogi, Lewa, Borana and Illngwesi host more than half of Kenya’s rhino population currently estimated at 1041.

Other stakeholders who participated in the event included local communities, County Government of Laikipia, World Wide Fund for nature (WWF), Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF), African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and Association of Private & Community Land Rhino Sanctuaries . 

World Rhino Day, now in its fifth year, is a global phenomenon, uniting NGOs, zoos, cause-related organizations, businesses, and concerned individuals from across the globe in demystify the myths on use of rhino horns and to diminish the demand for the horn.

Ellipse Projects move to Improve effectiveness Radio System

The President of the firm implementing the Digital Radio & solar upgrade project in KWS, Ellipse Projects, Mr. Olivier Picard (centre) paid a courtesy call to KWS Ag. Director General William Kiprono. Others in the photo are from left to right, KWS Head of ICT Michael Odhiambo, Ellipse Vice President Bruno Schambacher, Ellipse Kenya GM Ahmed El Naggar, KWS Ag. Dep. Dir Strategy & Change Mr. Edwin Wanyonyi, Ag. Dep. Dir Corporate Services Benson Wamaya.

Kenya Wildlife Service had the privilege of hosting the President of Ellipse Project from Paris, France. This ceremony was held at the KWS Director Generals office. 

The CEO & President of the company was in Kenya and had the visit to KWS as part of his itinerary while in Kenya.

The Ag. Deputy Director Corporate Services, Eng. Benson Wamaya highlighted the current status of the project so far achieved and highlighted the way forward, The Ag. Director General of KWS, Mr William Kiprono, congratulated the President and CEO of Ellipse project on their success in the tender process where they emerged winners of the process, He also indicated that the project was going on well and he looked forward to conclusion of the process. The CEO & President Mr Olivier Picard, showed his gratitude and ensured the management of KWS of an efficient and effective system at the end of the project. The Head of ICT Mr. Michael Odhiambo highlighted the technical capabilities seen so far from the teams from Ellipse and also assured the team of delivery of the project within time and budget.

Ellipse Projects is a the firm that is currently working on the project to upgrade the current two way radio system as well as an implementation of solar systems within selected conservation areas in Kenya. The project is a key deliverable for KWS that will run for the next thirteen months and officially commenced on the 1st April, 2014 after signing of a contract for the implementation between KWS and Ellipse projects. 

The radio upgrade will greatly improve effectiveness of the radio system that is widely used for communication within the various parks of KWS in management of park operations and security. The upgrade will also see an improvement in various security protocols that will be introduced in the new system, the digital radio network will also allow for remote administration of radio handsets so that should they fall in the wrong hands, they may be remotely disabled.

The project also has a component for solar power which will be installed within three conservation areas as well as other identified strategic locations within the various KWS stations. Implementation of the solar systems as a power backup solution would greatly reduce power consumption bills and enhance green energy solutions within the organization.

Building capacity to combat poaching

Kenya Wildlife Service Ag. Director General, William Kiprono

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Ag. Director General, William Kiprono has said that 575 rangers will soon graduate and be deployed to boost Kenya’s’ capacity to address the plight of elephants emanating from poaching, habitat loss and human-elephant conflict.

He was addressing participants at Voi, Taita Taveta County, during World Elephant Day celebration on Tuesday (August 12, 2014). 

“Next month, these men and women will graduate and join the ranger force to sustain our effort in conserving wildlife,” he said.

He said that KWS is investing on areas of mutual interest with County governments and communities living in wildlife-inhabited areas to minimize threats posed to Kenya’s elephant population for better protection, improving enforcement policies to prevent the illegal poaching and trade of ivory, and conserving elephant habitats.

He appealed to local communities not to be used by ivory dealers to undertake poaching or transport poached ivory noting that the new Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013 provides for stiffer penalties on offenders.

“We modernizing our security operations, systems and rangers deployment to ensure that our troops embrace latest and appropriate technology in their day to day operations,” he said. “This will enable us achieve high standards of performance and stop any further poaching incidences”.

While addressing the celebration, Taita Taveta Governor, John Mruttu said that his government is working closely with KWS in sensitizing communities on the new law and explore areas of benefit sharing envisaged by the new law.

Other stakeholders who participated in the event included WWF, IFAW, Save the Elephants, Elephant Neighbours, The Tsavo Trust and David Shedricks Wildlife Trust.  

World Elephant Day is celebrated worldwide to raise awareness on the plight of Asian and African elephants.

This year’s World Elephant Day was used to educate local communities on the need to protect the elephants, their role in the county and national economies as well as the penalties associated with trophy poaching of elephants and illegal possession of ivory.