THE NATURE AND TRENDS OF WILDLIFE CRIME IN KENYA

PRESENTED BY:J. Sarara

1.2

Vision , Mission and Core Values Vision

To be a world leader in wildlife conservation

Mission
To sustainably conserve and manage Kenyas wildlife and its habitats in collaboration with stakeholders for posterity

Core values
We conserve and manage Kenyas wildlife scientifically, responsively and professionally. We do this with integrity, recognising and encouraging staff creativity and continuous learning and teamwork in partnership with communities and stakeholders.

4.0 WILDLIFE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES IN KENYA

As a developing country Kenya is characterized with a high level of dependency on natural resources for survival. Some segment of the society illegally over exploit wildlife resources for either subsistence or commercial purposes. Some International decisions have negatively impacted on wildlife
conservation efforts in Kenya. Shifting patterns of world development have negative ramifications on wildlife law enforcement . Growing affluence and economic growth in East and South-East Asia has increased demand for natural resources, including an increased demand for wildlife and wildlife products. Climatic / weather changes have brought along myriad challenges and threats to wildlife conservation. Enhanced enforcement efforts have pressurized wildlife offenders to adopt dynamic modus operandi to cope up with or out do law enforcers.

Arrests for wildlife crimes

5000 4500 4000
3554 4357

3500
2984

No. Arrested

3000
2544 2671

2500

2180

2000
1500 1000 500 0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Years

Arrest per Offences (2006-2011)

2%
8% 10% 1% 4% 34%
Grazing Habitat Destruction Poaching Bushmeat

11%

Game Trophies Illegal Entry

30%

Firearms & Ammunation Others

Elephant Mortality (2006-2011)

Natural Trophy Poaching

11%

4% 1%

40%

Conflict Unknown Control

13%

Euthenasia

20%

31%

80%

Outside PAs Inside PAs

POACHING MEANS TREND 2007-2011

180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 25 20 0 14 3 2 2007 5 1 25 15 5 4 2008 12 17 1 2009 YEARS 13 1 7 5 2011 72 51 45 38 31 27 24 21 136 165

AR GS

POACHING MEANS

108

PO SN SP UN

2010

Bush meat poaching

Snaring of wildlife

Livestock incursion

6.0 EMERGING TRENDS IN WILDLIFE SECURITY

Resurgence of elephant and rhino poaching Livestock incursion into wildlife conservation areas Shifts in poaching areas and means

Trophy trafficking methods and concealments

Changes in wildlife movement and dispersal patterns Climate change

6.1
Elephant poaching out side PAs

Resurgence of elephant and rhino poaching

Rhino poaching has increased within the ranches implying that more rhinos are under threat than before

6.2

Encroachment into Wildlife Protected Areas

Disease free zones Vision 2030 Other illegal activities carried out through the park. Some cattle rustling incidents have run through wildlife / tourist sites. Biopiracy

LIVESTOCK INCURSION/DRIVE 2007-2011

900000 846392 800000

700000

600000 592995
QTY IN NO.

500000

400000 281884 300000

334342 240945

200000

100000

0
2007 2008 2009 YEAR 2010 2011

6.3

Shifts in poaching areas and means

Poachers have shifted into virtually all the areas hitherto unaffected except inside parks and reserves Less gunfire but more silent means of poaching being used. Spears, arrows and snares difficult to monitor outside PAs and in vegetative areas Increased snaring causing indiscriminate suffering and deaths

6.4

Banditry and proliferation of firearms

In Kenya poaching is closely interlinked to banditry since most armed bandits enter the country on poaching missions but most often they engage in other crimes
Poaching Trophy trafficking Highway robberies Arms smuggling Kidnapping

6.5

Trophy trafficking methods and concealments

Payment transaction made through electronic money transfer. Negative impact on posing as buyer strategy

Phone coverage has eased troop monitoring by criminals thereby making it easy for them to succeed
Trophy trafficking routes have shifted to Southern countries Use of known entry and exit points but contraband concealed carefully to avoid detection by law enforcement personnel

6.6 Trophy trafficking methods and concealments

Hiding specimens Passenger baggage Cargo containers on the traffickers body False compartments on vehicles Commercial shipments of hunting trophies Misdeclaration Incorrect information on customs documents (art craft, recycle waste plastics, rough game stones, fish maws) take appropriate inspections: Permit fraud use of forged or stolen and recycling of permits in particular on CITES listed species. This include forging of signatures of export authorized officers. Use of Postal Courier routes Most common system especially for less active animals

6.7 Illegal Trade and Trafficking in Wildlife Products

 Elephants have been found to have started moving into their former rangelands. This makes them more vulnerable to poaching. Drought drove elephants to search for water & foliage Subdivision of land has reduced range for plain game and subjected them to more poaching Dry and wet seasons poses security threat to wildlife

6.8 Changes in wildlife movement and dispersal patterns

7.0

SECURITY CHALLENGES FACED IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Encroachment on wildlife parks/reserves and incompatible land uses. Poverty and underlying socio-economic problems making people turn to wildlife crime. Weak wildlife legislation and policy Conflicting legislation governing other sectors Sophistication of wildlife crimes

International dynamics of illegal wildlife trade

Proliferation of small arms General insecurity in some areas Global terrorism Climate change

Facing the Future

Establishment of specialised units

25

Facing the Future..Contd..

Enhanced Security operations

Facing the Future..contd..

Mitigation on weak environmental laws
Wildlife Act inadequate hence need to use other relevant Acts
Environmental Management and Coordination Act, 1999 Public Health Act & The Meat Control (Transport of Meat) Regulations Local Government Act

Forestry Act, 2005

Fisheries Act Firearms Act, Cap 114 East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004

Facing the Future..contd..

Provision of wildlife conservation education to create public awareness and public support for conservation

Facing the Future..contd..

Enhanced monitoring and surveillance over the key species

Facing the Future..contd..

Force Modernization

Is based on Three Principles

Facing the Future..contd..

Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations

9.0 CONCLUSION
Wildlife crime works against the objective of sustainable wildlife conservation globally. It has driven many species into extinction and threatens others and pose a great threat to national, regional and international conservation efforts. The prevention and combating of crime involving natural resources should be the primary concern of the governments as our economies are primarily dependent on natural resources. Any crime committed involving natural resources not only degrades the environment, but also deprives the local population of their basic needs. Environmental and wildlife security issues are therefore vital national security interests. It is important not to lose sight of the ultimate objective of law enforcement. From a resource management point of view, the real objective is not arresting and punishing law breakers, but preventing resources from being degraded through illegal activities, i.e. achieving compliance with the law.

THANK YOU