Wildlife CSI Training Courses Wrap Up in Kenya

Rhishja CotaAfrica, Elephants, Rhinos, Wildlife CSI Training

Annamiticus was pleased to support the delivery of two back-to-back wildlife crime scene investigation courses in Kenya from March 16 – 23, 2022.

Wildlife CSI students in the field. Photo courtesy of Salvatore Amato.

Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Training for Forest Security Personnel saw 38 participants from the Kenya Wildlife and Forest Services, as well as community forest rangers from Mount Kenya Trust, the Bongo Surveillance Project, and Ragati River Management. The courses were delivered by our friend and colleague Salvatore Amato, in partnership with Rhino Ark and the Calgary Zoo.

Salvatore Amato working with Wildlife CSI students. Photo courtesy of Salvatore Amato.

Key elements of the course included:

  • approaching and securing wildlife crime scenes
  • searching and documenting the crime scene
  • evidence collection, chain of custody
  • use of evidence during prosecution

Training included both classroom presentations and a day-long practical field exercise where trainees processed a mock elephant poaching site and poacher’s camp.

Wildlife CSI students processing a mock elephant poaching site. Photo courtesy of Salvatore Amato.

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I am the founder of Annamiticus and I have been researching and writing about wildlife trafficking issues since 2009. I also founded World Pangolin Day in 2012. I am the author of USAID Wildlife Asia's Pangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk. I co-facilitated and was a presenter at the USAID Wildlife Asia Pangolin Care Workshop. At the 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora, I facilitated the species roundtables on pangolins. I have trekked with forest rangers in Cambodia, journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES meetings, I collaborate with colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species. I hosted the Behind the Schemes podcast and am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine. I enjoy music, desert gardening, herping, reading, creating, and walking with my dogs. Check out my t-shirts and stickers at snoots + teefers.