KWS Forensic and Genetics laboratory Commissioned

A KWS member of staff at the laboratory explains to Cabinet Secretary 
Prof. Judi Wakhungu and other dignitaries the process of operation of 
a gel electrophoresis machine and UV visualizer to view DNA results

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) now has a state-of-the –art forensic and genetics laboratory, making Kenya the second country in Africa after South Africa to apply Wildlife DNA forensic analysis in wildlife law enforcement.

The new facility at the KWS headquarters in Nairobi will aid in the provision of accurate identification of wildlife and wildlife products in order to strengthen prosecution of wildlife crimes. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) now has a state-of-the –art forensic and genetics laboratory, making Kenya the second country in Africa after South Africa to apply Wildlife DNA forensic analysis in wildlife law enforcement.

This is important because the rate of poaching for bush meat and trophies especially for rhino horns and ivory is leading to alarming decline of wildlife biodiversity. The rhino and the elephant which are classified as critically endangered and endangered respectively under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Appendix 1 of CITES are particularly affected.

Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources, Prof. Judi Wakhungu, speaking during the commissioning of the laboratory said, “In order to address some of these challenges it is imperative that we enact progressive and stringent policies that would deter criminals as well as adopt modern technology that would assist the criminal justice system to effectively convict and grant appropriate sentences as prescribed in law to wildlife crime perpetrators”.

Prof. Wakhungu said Kenya is currently collaborating with South Africa to develop the Rhinoceros DNA Indexing System under what is commonly known as the “RHODIS” Project. “Upon completion of this project, Kenya shall have a credible gene and data bank of our rhinos for effective monitoring and application of other interventions that would increase and sustain our populations”, she said.

The launch of this laboratory, the Cabinet Secretary said, marks a milestone in the implementation of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013 that has given the mandate of establishment of wildlife forensic laboratories to Kenya Wildlife Service. “It also demonstrates the commitment of the Government in eradicating wildlife crimes that posse major threats to our economy that is largely based on wildlife-tourism”, she said.

KWS Acting Director General Mr. William Kiprono says the facility shall revolutionise and radically change the manner in which investigations involving wildlife crimes shall be handled forthwith. “Proper application of wildlife DNA forensic analysis shall provide crucial evidence that would link with certainty a wildlife crime offender to the particular offence for which they are charged of”, he said.

Expected Benefits of the Laboratory:

• Reliable identification of wildlife and wildlife products will enhance prosecution and convictions of wildlife crime cases.
• Establishment of a database of species genetic markers that will aid in quick reliable identification of wildlife and wildlife products.
• Increased convictions of wildlife crime cases is envisaged to deter offenders and thus reduce rate of illegal harvest of wildlife and their products
• The laboratory will be one of its kind in the entire East and Central Africa, hence it will serve these countries towards curbing wildlife crimes.
• Since Kenya is a hub for international flights, smuggled wildlife and or wildlife products are frequently confiscated at the JKIA. The laboratory will aid the identification and possible source of products such as rhino horns especially once the rhino DNA indexing database is completed.
• It will assist in the certification or licensing for export of products whose identification is suspect e.g. ornaments made from animal products, for business or research. This will curb illegal exploitation of Kenya’s biodiversity and genetic resources.

The laboratory will be the only platform for enhancing wildlife genetics research.

Uhuru Kenyatta Sets Fire to 15 Tonnes Of Elephant Ivory

3 MARCH 2015 - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (R) set fire to 15 tons of elephant tusks during World Wildlife Day to discourage poaching. (Photo: CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has set fire to 15 tonnes of elephant ivory as part of the East African nation's efforts to curb poaching.

Kenyatta vowed to destroy the country's entire stockpile of illegal tusks by the year's end. The 15 tons destroyed was worth some $30 million on the black market and represented up to 1,500 slaughtered elephants, making it the largest consignment to be destroyed in Kenya.

Kenyatta said 25 years after the historic banning of the ivory trade, new demand from emerging markets is threatening Africa's elephants and rhinos. Kenyatta said African countries are concerned about the scale and rate of the new threat to endangered wildlife species.

Higher demand for ivory is fueling the elephant killings by poachers across Africa. Save The Elephants said last year that 100,000 elephants were killed in Africa between 2010 and 2012. On Thursday, China imposed a one-year ban on ivory imports amid criticism that its citizens' huge appetite for ivory threatens the existence of Africa's elephants.

While we await the commissioning of Forensic lab within the next couple of months, we are conducting forensic analysis to aid in crime scene management. The latest forensic approach is considered a weapon that may lead to a significant reduction in elephant poaching, both in Africa and Asia where they are now classified as endangered species.

JULY 1989 - President Daniel Arap Moi sets fire to tusks worth 3 million US dollars confiscated from poachers by Kenyan Game Wardens. Photo by Tom Stoddart- Getty Images

JULY 2011 - President Mwai Kibaki set light to nearly 5 tons of contraband ivory in Tsavo West National Park. Photo by Amboseli Trust for Elephants

National Wildlife Festival marks World Wildlife Day

On December 20, 2013 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3 March as  World Heritage  Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the  world's fauna and flora.

The date was adopted by Convention on \international Trade on Endangered Species of wild  fauna and flora. 

This year Kenya participated in this global celebration of wildlife by hosting a national celebration of her unique wildlife heritage through a week long National Wildlife Festival. 

The Kenya Wildlife Festival is an opportunity for all Kenyans from all walks of life to learn about wildlife through a variety of means inducing exhibits, music, debates, films, and citizen science projects.

Anti-elephant Poaching Fight Gets Boost as DNA Now Used to Track Ivory

By Business Daily

The latest forensic approach is considered a weapon that may lead to a significant reduction in elephant poaching, both in Africa and Asia where they are now classified as endangered species.

The wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, is deploying a new forensic weapon–DNA testing–to track illegal ivory products responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of endangered elephants in Asia and Africa.

Widely used in criminal cases, forensic DNA examination (Deoxyribonucleic acid) can help identify whether an elephant tusk is from Asia or Africa.

A customs officer holds a piece of carved ivory, part of seized ivory to be destroyed, at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Brussels . AFP

“The ability to use DNA and other forensic expertise provides great support to law enforcement, said Adisorn Noochdumrong.

Asked whether this is a first, Dr Richard Thomas, global communications coordinator at the UK-based TRAFFIC, told IPS: “It’s the first time I’m aware of when it’s been used to test ivory items for sale to prove their (illegal) provenance.”

However, he added, it’s worth noting that at the March 2013 meeting of CITES (the 1975 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), State Parties to the Convention were instructed that forensic information should routinely be gathered from all large-scale seizures of ivory (500kg).

Hence this is also an important demonstration of one technique that can be employed in the fight against the illegal trade in endangered species, he said. The current project is a collaborative effort between Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and TRAFFIC, to battle the widespread illegal trade of ivory in Thailand.

Asked whether African countries have similar projects in collaboration with TRAFFIC, Dr Thomas told IPS, “Not currently, although the scope of DNA and stable isotope analysis of ivory are being examined by others as means to determine the geographic origin of ivory within Africa.”

He also pointed out that any wildlife product, by definition, is associated with life and therefore open for DNA examination.

“So, in theory it could be a very widely employed technique in addressing wildlife trafficking.”

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Sri Lankan and Sumatran elephants are on a list of endangered species, along with the black rhino, mountain gorilla, Bengal tiger, the blue whale and the green turtle, among others.

WWF says the global illicit wildlife trade is estimated at over 10 billion dollars annually and is controlled by criminal networks.

Specifically on the ivory trade, Dr Thomas told IPS, “We’re very wary about speculating over black-market prices – in part, because they’re black market and therefore unverifiable, but more because of anecdotal evidence that high prices quoted in the media can lead to interest from the criminal fraternity in getting involved in trafficking.”

In a report released here, TRAFFIC said 160 items of small ivory products legally acquired by researchers, primarily from retail outlets in Bangkok, were subjected to DNA analysis at the DNP’s Wildlife Forensics Crime Unit (WIFOS Laboratory). The aim of the exercise was to determine whether the ivory products were made from African elephant or Asian elephant tusks.

The African elephant Loxodonta africana is found in 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and the Asian elephant Elephas maximas is found in Thailand and 12 other Asian countries.

The study also said forensic results show that African elephant ivory accounted for a majority of the items tested.

“Whilst the relatively small number of samples cannot be considered as representative of the entire ivory market in Thailand, it indicates that African elephant ivory is prominently represented in the retail outlets in Bangkok,” it noted. This capability supports the enforcement component of Thailand’s revised National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) submitted to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES in September 2014.

The plan was developed to control ivory tradein Thailand and strengthen measures to prevent illegal international trade and includes a strong focus on law enforcement and regulation, including the execution of a robust ivory registration system, according to the report.

“The ability to use DNA and other forensic expertise provides great support to law enforcement,” said Adisorn Noochdumrong, acting deputy director general of DNP.

“We are deeply concerned by these findings which come just at the moment a nationwide ivory product registration exercise is being conducted pursuant to recently enacted legislation to strengthen ivory trade controls in Thailand,” he added.

The report said the Thai government last month passed new legislation to regulate and control the possession and trade of ivory that can be shown to have come from domesticated Asian Elephants in Thailand.

With the passing of the Elephant Ivory Act B.E. 2558 (2015), anyone in possession of ivory – whether as personal effects or for commercial purposes – must register all items in their possession with the DNP from January 22 until April 21. Penalties for failing to do so could result in up to three years imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of Thai Baht 6 million (nearly 200,000 dollars).

“We remind anyone registering possession of raw ivory or ivory products under Thailand’s new laws that African elephant ivory is strictly prohibited and ineligible for sale in Thailand,” said Noochdumrong.

-IPS

Business Daily is A NATION MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION

Status of Wildlife Crime in Kenya

KWS Ag. Director General, Mr. William Kiprono
issues a statement on status of wildlife conservation in
Kenya during a press conference at KWS headquarters
 in Nairobi.

As is the general trend globally and in the region, we are witnessing an emergence of new challenges in wildlife security. Wildlife crime has evolved over time and the situation is presenting increased challenges to wildlife conservation in the country.

In the recent past, wildlife crime has been exacerbated by climate change, human population pressure and dynamics in the global economic order. Growing affluence and economic growth in East and South-East Asia contributed immensely to increased demand for rhino and ivory. The rising demand and price of ivory and rhino horn in the illicit market continues to drive poaching. Consequently, Kenya’s wildlife (rhinos, elephants and the large cat family) are among the contraband products driving illegal wildlife trade globally.

Poaching has become more organized, sophisticated and international in nature and is occurring across all their ranges including in those areas that were hitherto considered safe havens. Proliferation of small arms in the region and in the illegal hands of citizens in areas hosting wildlife is a big threat to the security of wildlife as these weapons are used in poaching in addition to committing other crimes. Poachers are now using poison arrows to kill elephants – which is a silent and dangerous method of killing elephants as it is not easy to detect.

Available evidence indicates that the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 witnessed the highest levels of poaching since the poaching crisis of the 1980’s. "For example, Kenya lost 47 elephants and 5 rhinos to poaching in year 2007 as compared to 384 and 30 in year 2012, and 302 elephants and 59 rhinos in year 2013 respectively. But we are glad that we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to concerted efforts by many stakeholders, including you. Last year, only 164 elephants and 35 rhinos were poached representing about 47 per cent and 40.7 per cent, respectively, representing a significant decrease from previous years. While these figures are indicative of the success of our concerted efforts, they still represent damage to our wildlife capital." KWS Ag. Director General, Mr. William Kiprono during the press conference.

Furthermore, a total of 50 firearms and 616 rounds of ammunition and 5 tonnes of ivory were recovered during 2014. During the year, a total of 1,430 suspects were arrested and prosecuted for various wildlife law offences. "This represents a 7.68 per cent decrease compared to the previous year which had 1,549 arrests. We have successfully prosecuted and secured convictions of up to 51 of the 306 cases handled by our officers within the provisions of the new law." Said Director Mr Kiprono.

The highest penalty in 2014 was 9 years imprisonment with an option of a fine of Ksh. 20 million. Other cases are still pending before various courts of law across the country.

To enhance wildlife security, strengthen law enforcement and address wildlife crime, KWS has deployed specific security interventions. These strategies include:

• Identification, surveillance and profiling of trophy dealers.
• Arresting and prosecuting offenders.
• Active security operations to hunt down poachers.
• Establishment and strengthening of specialized security units which are deployed throughout the country.
• Deployment of Canine Unit at Jomo Kenyatta and Moi International Airports in Nairobi and Mombasa, respectively, to enhance detection of contraband ivory.
• Training and building the capacity of law enforcement personnel
• Formation and deployment of Inter-Agency Elite Anti -Poaching Unit in poaching hot-spots
• Collaboration with other national security agencies and the regional Lusaka Agreement Task Force as well as cross border collaboration with other countries in the region.
• Reaching out to local communities to be partners in wildlife law enforcement

"Internally, KWS is continuously building staff capacity to deal with these challenges. We also recruited and deployed additional 566 rangers to enhance wildlife security and enforcement actions. Several specialized training and equipment have been provided to security units to improve on their efficiency and effectiveness. 

Mr Kiprono said "while we await the commissioning of Forensic lab within the next couple of months, we are conducting forensic analysis to aid in crime scene management. Samples of various species, especially the key species have been collected for DNA profiling to assist in identification and monitoring of wildlife species. Very soon, this lab will aid in evidence gathering and securing convictions in courts of law."

National Elephant Conference

Land use pressure, habitat loss, human elephant conflict (HEC), and illegal killing for both meat and ivory continue to pose threats to the long-term survival of elephant populations across Africa. Recent research also points to climate change and the increasing frequency of droughts as a major threat to elephant populations.

An elephant family In Tsavo East National Park

Although knowledge on the status of African Elephant across their range has been progressively improving since the mid-1990’s when considerable resources began to be channeled into compiling and producing regular updates of the continental status of elephants with a standardized measure of certainty, large gaps still remain.


In Kenya, enormous efforts have been applied in elephant conservation. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other conservation partners have been implementing initiatives geared towards protection, population expansion, mitigation of HEC and research and monitoring for management, as is outlined in the Conservation and Management Strategy for the Elephant in Kenya 2012-2021.


These initiatives have mostly been implemented independently by each party, with little efforts for synergy, hence reducing the overall positive impact to elephant conservation that could be accrued from a similar magnitude of efforts.

It is with this background that KWS will host a national elephant conference at its headquarters in Nairobi, along Langata Road on the 18th and 19th of February, 2015 that will bring together elephant conservation partners from across the country to discus contemporary elephant conservation needs, challenges and future outlook, and whose main objectives will be to monitor and evaluate progress in implementation of the national conservation and management strategy for elephant in Kenya and explicate synergy in information sharing among the relevant stakeholders.

The conference will run for two days and will be structured in such a way that presentations by various speakers will be grouped into related topics namely: elephant ecology, habitat utilization, HEC, genetics, illegal off take and trade.

The expected achievements from the conference include; new knowledge on elephant conservation and management dynamics, Synergy among elephant conservation partners, a roadmap to the implementation of the national elephant strategy and identification of gaps in knowledge on elephant conservation and management.